Software firm creates 78 jobs in Cork

16-12-2005

by Deirdre McArdle

Software firm VMware has opened a technical support centre in Cork, creating almost 80 new jobs in the process.

The firm, which was acquired by storage mammoth EMC at the beginning of 2004, will be establishing its Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Technical Support Centre at Ballincollig in Cork with the support of IDA Ireland.

The centre will create 78 new positions for highly specialised software graduate and post-graduate engineers who have extensive experience in a range of software environments and multilingual skills, according to the firm, which posted revenues of USD272 million for the first three quarters of 2005.

VMware develops virtual infrastructure software, which enables multiple virtual machines to be run on a single physical server. The firm claims this allows for more effective and more efficient use of customers' server hardware resources.

The centre represents VMware's first move to centralise its support services in Europe, which it says is one of its fastest-growing markets. "Our expanding EMEA customer base required a technical support centre and an available pool of highly educated people with enterprise-level software skills, specifically expertise in the Linux, Unix and Windows environments, which we found in Ireland," said John Dolan, director, support services at VMware's Cork facility.

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheal Martin, who made the announcement on Friday, called VMware one of fastest-growing software companies in the world and an important addition to the Irish software sector.

"The choice of Ireland as the location for this centre, which is technology-driven and requires highly skilled software engineers, is a further confirmation of Ireland's ability to provide a knowledge base for global businesses across all industries," said Minister Martin.

This is the second time this month that Cork has been the recipient of new jobs; on 2 December Japanese firm Alps Electric said it would create 140 high-quality engineering and manufacturing jobs within the next five years in an expansion of its Cork facility.