MADISON, WI -- (Marketwire) -- 11/20/12 -- TDS Hosted and Managed Services (TDS HMS), a leading provider of cloud-based managed services, today announced that its ReliaCloud™ service has achieved VMware vCloud® Powered status. This achievement illustrates, to customers, that TDS HMS' cloud services are underpinned by VMware's leading virtualization and cloud infrastructure and management technology, namely VMware vSphere® and VMware vCloud Director®. A member of the VMware Service Provider Program (VSPP), TDS HMS provides VMware vCloud Powered service as a set of cloud computing services across a common platform, supporting the largest set of existing applications and offering distinctive application mobility uniquely available from VMware.

"Inclusion in the VMware vCloud Powered program illustrates our continued efforts to build cloud infrastructure that can reliably and securely host enterprise-class production applications," comments Clint Harder, Vice President of Product Strategy for TDS HMS. "It is another important step for us to show customers we are serious about helping them extend their IT infrastructure into the cloud."

Achievement of VMware vCloud Powered status illustrates that TDS HMS is committed to the highest level of partnerships with industry leading technology providers. By deploying VMware vSphere and VMware vCloud Director, ReliaCloud offers high levels of systems availability and maximum flexibility in resource deployment. Combined with enterprise-class technology from Cisco and EMC, ReliaCloud provides a powerful cloud platform for companies to deploy their production applications and host critical business data.

"The VMware vCloud Powered program was developed to enable our service provider partners to differentiate themselves and help them bring their enterprise-class cloud services to market in highly competitive landscapes," said Michael McDonough, VSPP Leader of the Americas, VMware. "We look forward to supporting TDS HMS further as it delivers the agility and performance customers are looking for in the cloud computing landscape."

ReliaCloud customers have the ability to move workloads from their VMware vSphere-based virtualized or private cloud environment to the VMware vCloud Powered service and back again. This application portability is a key differentiator, allowing customers to achieve the flexibility and security they need while enabling increased IT agility.

TDS HMS sought VMware vCloud Powered validation for ReliaCloud in order to offer its customers the highest levels of systems availability and maximum flexibility in resource deployment. Combined with enterprise-class technology from Cisco and EMC, ReliaCloud provides a powerful cloud platform for companies to deploy their production applications and host critical business data. As a validated provider, TDS HMS can now provide users with enhanced responsiveness and agility, and reduced IT costs through increased consolidation, task automation, and simplified management. The ReliaCloud service is currently available through TDS HMS companies, Vital Support Systems and VISI, Inc., and is located in three highly-secure Tier III data centers in Eden Prairie, Minn., Madison, Wis., and Des Moines, Iowa.

About TDS Hosted & Managed Services
TDS Hosted & Managed Services, LLC (TDS HMS) supports the operations of OneNeck IT Services Corp., Vital Support Systems, and VISI Incorporated. Each of these companies is a wholly owned subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems Inc., a Fortune 500® company. TDS HMS is growing rapidly; now employing more than 500 people throughout the U.S. TDS HMS companies specialize in engineering and management of IT infrastructure, including: hosted application management, managed hosting, and ReliaCloud™ enterprise cloud services. TDS HMS also owns and operates Tier III data centers in Iowa, Minn., and Wis. Visit oneneck.com, vitalsite.com, and visi.com for more information.

Telephone and Data Systems [NYSE: TDS] provides wireless, broadband, TV and landline telephone services to approximately 7 million customers in 36 states through TDS Telecommunications Corp. and U.S. Cellular [NYSE: USM], its majority owned wireless subsidiary. Telephone and Data Systems was named one of Forbes' Most Trustworthy Companies in 2012. Founded in 1969, and headquartered in Chicago, the company employs more than 12,300 people. Visit teldta.com for investment information.

Editor's NOTE: VMware, VMware vCloud and VMware vSphere are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of VMware, Inc. in the United States and/or other jurisdictions. All other marks and names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies. The use of the word "partner" or "partnership" does not imply a legal partnership relationship between VMware and any other company.