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Advanced Micro Devices is working with a software startup, BlueStacks, whose solution enables users of Windows-based devices to run Android applications.
AMD announced Oct. 20 that it is making an investment in the company. No amount was disclosed.
AMD and BlueStacks are working together to optimize BlueStacks’ solution, BlueStacks App Player for Windows, for AMD’s Fusion APUs (accelerated processing units), were first introduced in January and offer a chip with the CPU and high-level graphics integrated onto the same piece of silicon.
By optimizing the solution for AMD’s technology, people using notebooks or other devices powered by AMD APUs and running Windows would be able to access Android apps and run them on the systems. There are more than 200,000 apps in the Android Market.
AMD is looking to make similar investments in companies that, like BlueStacks, are looking to enhance the user experience on notebooks, tablets and similar devices, according to Manju Hegde, corporate vice president of AMD’s Fusion Experience Program.
“Bluestacks is a visionary software company that is, seamlessly, making the emerging Android mobile apps market part of the broader computing ecosystem and enhancing such experiences on our award-winning APU platforms,” Hegde said in a statement. “AMD is committed to support such game changing innovators through investment and other activity as we work together to usher in new experiences that allow consumers to enjoy the full capabilities of the brilliant graphics and computing performance enabled by AMD.”
BlueStacks President and CEO Rosen Sharma said AMD’s investment will go a long way in enabling his company to expand its reach in the industry.
“AMD’s investment in BlueStacks will help us to create an environment where your favorite apps can be accessed regardless of platform technology, providing greater entertainment and productivity value,” Sharma said in a statement. “Working with AMD enables us to do this faster by expanding our network of OEMs and retailers to reach a broad audience of consumers and businesses that want to get more out of Android.”
According to BlueStacks’ Website, the key part of its solution is a multi-OS runtime with virtualization technology that enables apps from different operating systems to run simultaneously on the same computer, which in this cases enables a Windows-based device to run the Android apps.
The company notes that while the current release of its solution supports Android running on Windows on x86 ystems, the same virtualization technology can support a wide range of operating systems and applications. For example, with the release next year by Microsoft of Windows 8, BlueStacks’ solution will enable Android running Windows for devices powered by ARM-designed chips. Windows 8 will support system-on-a-chip architectures like ARM.
BlueStacks also points to being able to run Android on Google’s Chrome operating system and Windows running on Android-powered devices.
AMD made the investment in BlueStacks through its AMD Fusion fund program, which looks to invest in companies whose solutions can be leveraged by the chip maker’s Fusion products.
AMD officials have pushed to quickly expand the reach of their Fusion technology, with products now aimed at everything from low-power laptops to embedded devices to mainstream notebooks and desktops.