Mobile virtualisation attracts major backer

gallery

A small US vendor has today revealed a major new equity investor in its virtualisation software for communications devices and infrastructure equipment.

California-based VirtualLogix said handset giant Motorola had joined Intel, Texas Instruments and Cisco in backing its work to develop software that will enable to run two operating systems (OS) on a single phone.

Terms of the investment were not disclosed. It remains unlikely that the likes of Microsoft Windows Mobile and Blackberry OS, for instance, would be offered on the same phone anytime soon, but VirtualLogix said its software could be used to improve security and cut costs handset manufacturers in future.

"As virtualisation moves out from the data centre and into everyday front-end connected devices, our connected world will require the delivery of efficient, secure and customisable user experiences," said Peter Richards, VirtualLogix chief executive. "To meet this demand, electronics manufacturers are looking to use the VirtualLogix technology to create products with improved security, manageability and customisation."

Reese Schroeder, Motorola Ventures managing director, added: "As the mobile ecosystem grows increasingly complex, demand for simplified product designs that allow dynamic mobile experiences to run across multiple platforms will intensify. Virtualisation offers a solution to this complexity."

The software developer said that by using mobile virtualisation, a handset maker can run one operating system that controls important basic phone functions and separate it from another operating system that an end-user can then customise and add applications to, without fear of corrupting the OS with unauthorised downloads.

Rob Bamforth, principal Quocirca analyst, told IT PRO demand for such capabilities could increase as it was unlikely the mobile industry would standardise on any one or two mobile OS soon.

"You've got Apple, Google's Android, Microsoft and Linux platforms and the challenge for manufacturers has been that they have had to choose," he said. "Motorola's tried to use most of these, so their investment makes sense."

But Bamforth added: "My only concern would be the ease of use to the subscriber. It makes sense if the virtual layer beneath the OS is seamless to the user, rather like mobile Java could be said to be an unseen virtual platform that runs on top of the OS."

Email to a friend

Print this page