IBM (IBM) and VMware (VMW) have partnered to bring new flexibility to the hybrid cloud, a move they hope will help speed adoption of hybrid virtual server and storage solutions.

On Thursday, the companies announced that VMware deployments running on IBM SoftLayer servers can integrate with a cloud service hosted by IBM. That enables:

IBM is pitching the solution as a way to help more enterprises adopt hybrid-cloud models. "This makes transitioning into a hybrid model easier because it results in greater workload mobility and application continuity," the company said in a statement. "It also helps companies make a more gradual transition to the cloud avoiding a complete forklift of IT operations."

For its part, VMware hopes the offering will increase the appeal of virtual server products by providing more flexibility and reliability. "IBM is a key partner for VMware by providing its SoftLayer global cloud solutions for our joint enterprise clients," said Geoff Waters, vice president, Service Provider Channel, VMware. "This partnership provides enterprises with a proven cloud platform on a global basis with high performance, enhanced security and control by using technologies from IBM and VMware. The ability to move workloads across continents offers enterprises new and exciting deployment options for their applications and cloud services."

Pricing for the offering will be based on monthly billing and processor use. It will become available in November, according to IBM.