Google and VMware Bolster Alliance to Lift Cloud Sales

Googles cloud-computing unit unveiled an expanded partnership with software maker VMware Inc. as the Alphabet Inc. division seeks to catch up to rivals that have similar deals.The pact will help VMware, which makes virtualization and networking tools, satisfy customers who want to move VMware-based workloads from their corporate servers to Googles public cloud, the companies said Monday in interviews with executives. VMware and Google are expected to formally announce the tie-up on Tuesday. Googles annualized sales for its cloud-computing business will be $8 billion this year, the company said last week during its earnings call. That figure includes internet-based computing and storage, as well as Googles suite of productivity apps for word processing, spreadsheets and other office needs. Cloud revenue generated by market leaders Amazon.com Inc. and Microsoft Corp. dwarf Googles expected performance this year, boosting the need for partnerships with common corporate vendors like VMware, which has tens of millions of enterprise workloads running on its software.