Leveraging IT Structure’s service,   VMware will enable Virtual Appliance Marketplace users to test “App on Demand” from a variety of independent software vendors (ISVs), thus bypassing the need to download and install locally in order to evaluate a virtual appliance.  The applications will be available on-demand, via the web, through the IT Structures cloud-based service.

VMware announced and began rolling out the beta “App on Demand” service on April 21.  Initially, the cloud-based trials will be available with a few virtual appliances and will quickly expand to additional virtual appliances over the coming weeks.

“This is a significant validation for our service, and we are very happy to be working with a leader like VMware,” said Zvi Guterman, chief executive officer at IT Structures.  “Our goal is to bring the speed and instant gratification from the consumer world to the IT world.  Through the Virtual Appliance Marketplace, VMware has made it very convenient to identify, evaluate, and acquire pre-installed enterprise software applications.  It’s akin to an iPhone App Store for enterprise apps.  Even with this convenience, not all VAM users may be keen to go through the download and install process with multiple virtual appliances.”

 “That’s where IT Structures comes in,” continued Dan Chu, vice president of emerging products and solutions at VMware.  “We are very excited to work with IT Structures and leverage their solution to enable App on Demand.  A customer can evaluate and even run a proof-of-concept on a fully functional version of the application, easily share it and collaborate with others in the decision-making process, and make side-by-side comparisons quickly and efficiently.  We expect participating ISVs will see an increase in trials, and therefore sales, as a result of this new capability.”

“IT Structures’ ability to leverage the cloud to enable enterprise software evaluations is a great example how virtualization and cloud can be combined to accelerate traditional software purchasing processes,” said Rachel Chalmers, Research Director at The 451 Group. “The cloud’s elasticity is a good match for evaluations and proof-of-concept projects; and availability through the Internet makes cloud evaluations easily accessible.  IT Structures service dovetails neatly with the VMware VAM, and should really help customers make more knowledgeable purchasing decisions.” 

Virtual appliances simplify the evaluation, deployment and management of software applications.  More than 1000 virtual appliances spanning collaboration, email security, intrusion detection and prevention, networking, systems management, and storage are available from the VMware VAM.

IT Structures’ Virtual Sales Engagement service empowers enterprise software and appliance vendors to orchestrate secure, Web-based evaluations and fully functional enterprise POCs for prospective customers and partners.