<p>Virtualization kingpin VMware (NYSE: VMW) is promoting its new Zimbra 8.0 messaging and collaboration vehicle to partners, backing the release with a special demand generation campaign to urge solution providers to migrate customers from legacy platforms either to a cloud-based or on-premise edition of the software, according to a blog post on the vendor's web site.</p><p>The vendor's new Grid campaign for Zimbra, aptly named VMware Zimbra: Messaging &amp; Collaboration for the Post-PC Era, is aimed at businesses using legacy or on-premise email systems, including Microsoft Exchange, Google Apps, IBM Lotus Domino, and Novell GroupWise. The goal is to generate leads for channel partners from customers using those platforms.</p><p>VMware recently added material to the Grid campaigns to help channel partners take advantage of a host of new tools and features to create co-branded campaigns quickly and efficiently. Enhancements include seamless login for partners to access their campaigns, increased automation and the ability to extend content across social media, on-demand webinars and 60-second targeted videos. The Grid houses 36 customizable demand-generation campaigns offered free of charge to VMware authorized channel partners. According to the vendor, last year VMware partners used Grid campaigns to generate in excess of 20,000 sales leads.</p><p>VMware's promotional message to partners, as stated in a Zimbra video: "One of the most critical applications to bring into the cloud is email, calendaring and collaboration. That's because traditional systemsuse the desktop for primary storage and access. Let's face it, in today's world that just doesn't cut it."</p><p><a href="http://www.thevarguy.com/2012/11/15/vmware-pushes-zimbra-update-with-new-marketing-campaign/">Keep reading...</a></p>