The company buys into software that allows mobile phones to run multiple operating systems.
Motorola is investing in VirtualLogix, which develops virtualization
software allowing for cell phones to run multiple operating systems.
With the undisclosed investment April 21, Motorola joins Atlas
Venture, Cisco Systems, DFJ Esprit, Index Ventures, Intel Capital and
Texas Instruments as investors in VirtualLogix.
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Earlier
this month, VirtualLogix announced virtualization support for Windows'
mobile operating system. The company already supports real-time
operating systems or Linux by applying real-time virtualization
technology on platforms using multi-core processors.
"As the mobile eco-system grows increasingly complex, demand for
simplified product designs that allow dynamic mobile
experiences to run across multiple platforms will intensify," Reese
Schroeder, managing director of Motorola Ventures, said in a statement.
Schroeder added that virtualization offers solutions for the complexity.
"Our investment in VirtualLogix will help accelerate the delivery of
their technology to next-generation communications devices and
infrastructure equipment," he said.
Windows interfaces usually require separate hardware to handle
mission-critical portions of the equipment. VirtualLogix claims its
real-time virtualization software simplifies the design by allowing all
software to share a common hardware platform.
"As virtualization moves out from the data center and into everyday
front-end connected devices, our connected world will require the
delivery of efficient, secure and customizable user experiences," Peter
Richards, CEO of VirtualLogix, said in a statement.
Richards said technologies such as VOIP (voice over IP), IPTV (IP
television) and enterprise communication applications are not currently
benefiting from virtualization because of high throughput requirements.
In addition, developers face challenges to practically using embedded
multi-core processor systems.