Verizon Enterprise Solutions Adds AirWatch EMM Platform

Verizon Enterprise Solutions announced this week that it is expanding its relationship with VMware (VMW) to become the latest reseller of the virtualization giant’s AirWatch Enterprise Mobility Management platform. Through the renewed alliance, Verizon’s U.S. enterprise customers will have access to all on-premise instances of the AirWatch EMM through the Verizon mobile device management portfolio, effectively allowing users to increase their mobile endpoint security and utilize desktop virtualization solutions from VMware.

“As enterprises respond to changing employee demographics and expectations, we continue to build out our mobile device management portfolio to offer customers choices that drive business efficiency and employee engagement,” said Verizon Enterprise Solutions CMO John Harrobin in a press release. “Our relationship with VMware brings advanced enterprise mobility solutions to organizations across a number of sectors.”

Through the agreement, Verizon’s customers will have access to several new solutions, including the complete AirWatch EMM platform, complete with endpoint security and telecom analytics, as well as content collaboration solutions for IT professionals, according to the company. VMware will also work with Verizon to enhance its desktop virtualization, image management and Bring Your Own PC solutions to its customers.

“Verizon and VMware have a rich history, and we look forward to working even more closely together to bring end-user computing solutions to customers,” said Sanjay Poonen, executive vice president and general manager, End-User Computing, VMware. “From desktop to laptop to tablet to phone to the Internet of Things, VMware brings the software solutions that allow end users’ device, apps, content to be securely managed and served up as if in an extended pane of glass, or virtual workspace. We look forward to bringing this vision to the market with a strong industry leader like Verizon.”

VMware acquired AirWatch earlier this year, with the company dolling out a respectable $1.5 billion for control of the EMM platform provider. VMware originally announced its intentions to purchase AirWatch in January, citing the company as the leader in the rapidly growing enterprise mobility management sphere. AirWatch CEO John Marshall stated in April that the company plans to integrate its EMM platform with VMware View and Horizon DaaS, thus honing VMware’s existing virtualization platform with new mobile capabilities. Earlier this month, AirWatch was named as a Leader in the 2014 Magic Quadrant for enterprise mobility management by industry analyst Gartner.