virtualization.info: Is VMware playing unfair about learning?

Is VMware playing unfair about learning?

Thursday, May 05, 2005 | 7 Comments |

As you probably know since quite 1 year (July 2004) VMware opened up a learning program for worldwide companies. IT professionals already certified as VMware Certified Professional (VCP) with a somewhat high exam score (85%) could become Certified Instructors and companies, achieving certain requirements and paying an annual fee, could become VMware Authorized Training Center (VATC) Partners. Details about how to become an Instructor are always been undisclosed on the web site. Only a direct contact with VMware can clear what is needed. How many of you were or are actually interested in becoming VMware instructors? How many of you invested in trying to obtain the certification? I know a few... Details about how to become a VATC Partner remained undisclosed as well. But in this case can neither a direct call to VMware can clear requirements for achieving this special status. How many of you were interested in receiving official training in national language instead of English? I know a few... Impossible? Well: my company wanted to become a VATC Partner for Italy (notice that we already are both VMware Enterprise VIP and VMware Core Customers) and I wanted to become a VMware Certified Instructor. I contacted VMware as well asking for requirements and after taking me on hold for _FOUR MONTHS_ I was notified that the achievement was granted to another company. Ok, I've no problem in having competitors, but I'm interested on knowing VATC requirements... VMware let me clearly intend that my company will not obtain VATC status since simply there are _NO REAL REQUIREMENTS_ someone can try to accomplish to. This is really incredible to me. It's incredible I needed to wait four months to have an elusive answer. It's incredible VMware create a Partner Program no one can adhere to (or at least not in a democratic way). It's incredible VMware chooses to not spread training about its own technology. Now, checking official web site for VATC Partner Program URL I just discovered every reference disappeared... Just the german press release survived. So need I to guess the VATC Program is shutted down without notice? If so, why VMware just designed an italian VATC Partner? Really incredible. And really unfair.

Comments

Ive faced a similar situation in France. Ive passed the test with a high enough score to apply as trainer, my company is a VIP partner as well.
After asking details about how to become a VATC, we got answered from now on only distributors will be able to offer training.
My company entertains a good relationship with the french distributor (Magirus) and the funny yet nice part is that Magirus asked my company if i could possibly give trainings in their name cause they lack qualified trainers...
So situation right now seems to be that training is a distributor privilege. Is the .it company granted VATC status also a distributor?

By d0nd at hotmail dot com, at Wednesday, January 25, 2006 10:31:00 PM

The .it company never asked for Distributor status.

Since this article VMware agreed to grant another VATC status to a second distributor in Italy, again without trasparency in decision.

I don't work with the .it company anymore so they probably won't enroll for VATC status anymore.

By Alessandro, at Wednesday, January 25, 2006 10:40:00 PM

I know where your coming. As a freelancer I found becoming a VCI incrediably difficult. My progress has been governed by hard-work, luck, and the contacts I made with people within VMware.

As for VATC status - It looks as if VMware wants to keep a very very tight control on who has the rights to run authorised courses. To some degree this is a "quality control" issue. But that aside - the other reason is the company wants to aviod flooding the market with VATC, and turning VCP into something like the MCSE. Hundreds of providers, "stack it high, sell it cheap" mentality - with training providors not actually making any revenue.

By Anonymous, at Tuesday, February 28, 2006 10:32:00 AM

Hi Allesandro, we have found the same problem in the UK, where there is a real undersupply.

Have you heard of anyone running unofficial courses?

By Paul67, at Wednesday, March 01, 2006 12:53:00 PM

Hi Paul,
thank you for commenting.

Immediately after this move in Italy quite every distributor/reseller started their own VMware custom courses.

Nobody accepted this way of doing, not just me.

By alessandro, at Wednesday, March 01, 2006 12:54:00 PM

I am not surprised Allesandro.

Do you have any idea where I might be able to buy unofficial training manuals?

By Paul67, at Wednesday, March 01, 2006 1:18:00 PM

Sorry Paul,
I'm aware of unofficial courses and manuals just in my country, Italy.

By alessandro, at Wednesday, March 01, 2006 3:36:00 PM

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