Joint Ventures	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Joint Ventures	9. Joint Ventures VCE Company LLC In 2009, Cisco and EMC formed VCE Company LLC (“VCE”). VMware and Intel are also investors in VCE. VCE, through Vblock infrastructure platforms, delivers an integrated IT offering that combines network, computing, storage, management, security and virtualization technologies for converged infrastructures and cloud based computing models. As of March 31, 2012, we have contributed $447.0 million in funding and $11.7 million in stock-based compensation to VCE since inception and own approximately 58% of VCE's outstanding equity. In April 2012, EMC contributed an additional $94.7 million in funding to VCE. We consider VCE a variable interest entity. Authoritative guidance related to variable interest entities states that the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity must have both of the following characteristics: (a) the power to direct the activities of a variable interest entity that most significantly will impact the entity's economic performance; and (b) the obligation to absorb losses that could be potentially significant to the variable interest entity or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the variable interest entity. Since the power to direct the activities of VCE which most significantly impact its economic performance are determined by its board of directors, which is comprised of equal representation of EMC and Cisco, and all significant decisions require the approval of the minority shareholders, we have determined we are not the primary beneficiary, and as such we account for the investment under the equity method. Our portion of VCE's gains and losses is recognized in other expense, net, in the consolidated income statements. Our consolidated share of VCE's losses, based upon our portion of the overall funding, was approximately 63.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 58% for the three months ended March 31, 2011. As of March 31, 2012, we have recorded net accumulated losses from VCE of $308.8 million since inception, of which $55.5 million and $41.9 million were recorded in the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. We recognized $58.4 million and $22.3 million in revenue from sales of product and services to VCE during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. We perform certain administrative services, pursuant to an administrative services agreement, on behalf of VCE and we pay certain operating expenses on behalf of VCE. Accordingly, we have a receivable from VCE related to the administrative services agreement of $26.3 million and $27.0 million as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, which is included in other current assets in the consolidated balance sheets.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for equity investment, or group of investments, for which combined disclosure is appropriate, including: (a) the name of each investee and percentage of ownership of common stock, (b) accounting policies for investments in common stock, (c) difference between the amount at which the investment is carried and the amount of underlying equity in net assets and the accounting treatment of the difference, (d) the total fair value of each identified investment for which a market value is available, (e) summarized information as to assets, liabilities, and results of operations of the investees (for investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries, common stock of joint ventures, or other investments using the equity method), and (f) material effects of possible conversions, exercises, or contingent issuances of the investee. Other disclosures include (a) the names of any investee in which the investor owns 20 percent or more of the voting stock and investment is not accounted for using the equity method, and the reasons why not, and (b) the names of any investee in which the investor owns less than 20 percent of the voting stock and the investment is accounted for using the equity method, and the reasons why it is.

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