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The most widely deployed mobile virtualization solution
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Open Kernel Labs Blog
April 09, 2009
High Expectations: Mobile Phone Virtualization
Last week we were at ESC and I was able to speak with several editors and analysts. In our meetings I was frequently asked, “Why would a consumer want mobile phone virtualization?”
The simple answer is, “If mobile virtualization is implemented properly, the user can’t tell that their phone has been virtualized.” The reality is that performance, high functionality and cheaper prices, made possible by OKL4, are just expected by mobile phone users.
Mobile phone virtualization enables the device to have a high level of functionality at a low manufacturing cost, using fewer engineering resources, and requiring less development time. The Motorola Evoke QA4, the world’s first virtualized mobile phone, is a perfect example of this. The idea was to find a way to build a smartphone with advanced capabilities (touchscreen, advanced user interface, etc) at a featurephone price. OKL4, a microkernel-based embedded hypervisor, made this possible.
Reduced cost: The reduction in bill of materials cost was made possible by running two operating systems on a single ARM processor. Until now, the unique capabilities made possible by running a Linux operating system and an RTOS was not practicle without using two processors. This processor consolidation decreases bill cost by $10 - $15/per handset. That translates to a $30 - $45 per device for the carriers, corporations, and consumers.
Reduced time to market: Like many things in technology, the lifespan of a new mobile phone is getting shorter. Rather than keeping a phone for two years, users are inclined to upgrade handsets in 12 – 18 months, resulting in ever-shorter design cycles. Virtualization enables legacy software reuse, which means less development time and shorter time to market.
Fewer engineering resources: The key to this accomplishment was being able to leverage Linux. Taking as much technology from the open source Linux world and Linux ecosystem translated to fewer engineering hours.
Now that OK Labs has delivered the world's first mobile phone virtualization solution, the demand for it's and all of its benefits can be met.
Posted by Steve Subar on April 09 at 05:09 AM
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About Steve Subar:
Steve Subar, CEO and President of OK Labs, has been an honored leader in the technology industry for 20 plus years and has received several accolades for his work. Steve is an avid runner who can also be found communing with his surfboard in Bondi Beach, Australia; skiing the slopes of Beaver Creek, Colorado; or searching for the perfect Pinot Noir all over the world.