Salesforce.com, VMware set to launch 'VMForce'

IDG News Service - Salesforce.com and VMware are forging a high-profile partnership, according to a Web site announcing an April 27 event being held by the companies.

The site, VMForce.com, includes few details about exactly what is planned, saying that Salesforce.com CEO Marc Benioff and VMware CEO Paul Maritz will "make an exciting joint announcement on the future of cloud computing."

"VMForce is coming," a headline reads. "See it here live on April 27."

Representatives for both vendors did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday.

The VMware partnership could result in some type of virtualization-as-a-service offering, but other evidence makes the guessing game more difficult.

VMware has recently made moves toward application development, purchasing Java tools maker SpringSource, as well as business applications in general, scooping up the Zimbra e-mail and collaboration suite from Yahoo.

In turn, Salesforce.com has been broadening its offering beyond pure CRM (customer relationship management) with efforts like the Force.com development platform, its AppExchange marketplace and FinancialForce.com, accounting software that is the result of a joint venture with Unit 4 Agresso.