VMware is Named 2011 Best of Interop Grand Prize Winner

LAS VEGAS, May 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- InformationWeek Analytics, the leading service for peer-based IT research and analysis, and Interop, the leading global business technology event series, today announced VMware as the Grand Prize Winner of the 2011 Best of Interop Awards. Also selected were Best of Interop winners in eight categories, including VMware, Vidyo Inc., Alcatel-Lucent, NEC Corporation, BreakingPoint Systems, Inc., Talari Networks, Barracuda Networks, Inc. and Citrix Systems. Interop Las Vegas 2011 is taking place this week at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center and will conclude on Thursday, May 12.  For more information, visit: http://www.bestofinterop.com/.

(Logo  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110502/SF93003LOGO)

Best of Interop recognizes some of the world's most innovative technologies across eight major categories. More than 100 companies' submitted products for consideration and judges selected finalists based on the products they believe have the greatest potential to impact and advance business technology efficiencies.  The panel of judges chosen to select the Best of Interop finalists was made up of 16 award-winning editors and analysts from InformationWeek Analytics. 

"The Best of Interop Awards presents leading edge technologies of the outstanding IT vendors in the industry," said Art Wittmann, Vice President and Director, InformationWeek Analytics.  "VMware and each of the category winners represent market innovation and deserve recognition for helping build the energy and growth of today's IT marketplace."

"The Best of Interop Awards is one of the highlights of Interop Las Vegas -- showcasing the companies that are playing a vital role in helping shape the future of IT," said Lenny Heymann, Interop General Manager. "We are pleased to have Interop be the platform for bringing together the latest advancements in business technology and we congratulate VMware for their innovation in the industry."

The 2011 Best of Interop Awards winners in each category are:

• Cloud Computing & Virtualization: VMware – VMware vCenter Operations Standard 1.0
• Collaboration: Vidyo Inc. – VidyoMobile
• Data Center & Storage:  Alcatel-Lucent – Alcatel-Lucent Data Center Switching Solution Blueprint
• Infrastructure: NEC Corporation – NEC ProgrammableFlow Switch
• Network Management, Monitoring & Testing: BreakingPoint Systems, Inc. – BreakingPoint FireStorm CTM
• Performance Optimization:  Talari Networks – Mercury T750 APN Appliance
• Security: Barracuda Networks, Inc. –  Barracuda Flex
• Wireless & Mobility: Citrix Systems –  Citrix Receiver for the iPhone

In addition to these eight category winners, a special award was also awarded to Ciphertex Data Security for Best Startup.

Best of Interop is hosted by InformationWeek Analytics.  For more information on Best of Interop categories and awards, visit www.bestofinterop.com.

About InformationWeek Analytics

InformationWeek Analytics is the leading resource for peer-driven research, providing business technology professionals with the real-world analysis and perspective they need to run better, smarter IT organizations.  InformationWeek Analytics content is written and produced by an analyst team comprised of practicing senior IT professionals and InformationWeek's world-class editors. Featuring a combination of quantitative research and qualitative real world analysis, coupled with technology-adoption best practices, the InformationWeek Analytics site boasts more than 900 reports and briefs written specifically for and by IT professionals.  InformationWeek Analytics is part of the InformationWeek Business Technology Network.  For more information, visit www.analytics.informationweek.com.

About Interop®

Interop® drives the adoption of technology, providing knowledge and insight to help IT and corporate decision-makers achieve business success. Part of UBM TechWeb's family of global brands, Interop is the leading business technology event series. Through in-depth educational programs, workshops, real-world demonstrations and live technology implementations in its unique InteropNet program, Interop provides the forum for the most powerful innovations and solutions the industry has to offer. Interop Las Vegas is the flagship event held each spring, with Interop New York held each fall, with annual international events in Mumbai and Tokyo, all produced by UBM TechWeb and partners. For more information about these events visit, www.interop.com.

About UBM TechWeb

UBM TechWeb the global leader in technology media and professional information, enables people and organizations to harness the transformative power of technology. Through its three core businesses – media solutions, marketing services and paid content – UBM TechWeb produces the most respected and consumed brands and media applications in the technology market. More than 14.5 million business and technology professionals (CIOs and IT managers, Web & Digital professionals, Software Developers, Government decision makers, and Telecom providers) actively engage in UBM TechWeb's communities and information resources monthly. UBM TechWeb brands include: global face-to-face events such as Interop, Web 2.0, Black Hat and Enterprise Connect; award-winning online resources such as InformationWeek, Light Reading, and Network Computing; and market-leading magazines InformationWeek, Wall Street & Technology, and Advanced Trading. UBM TechWeb is a part of UBM plc, one of the world's largest media businesses as a global provider of news distribution and specialist information services with a market capitalization of more than $2.5 billion.

SOURCE TechWeb