VirtualLogix VLX for Mobile Handsets

VirtualLogix Hooks Up With Freescale Semiconductor To Secure Mobile Commerce

June 19, 2008 by Robin Wauters Leave a Comment

VirtualLogix today announced that it has entered into a collaboration agreement with Freescale Semiconductor to create a trusted environment for mobile devices and other terminals that can be used in particular to ensure security of mobile commerce (m-commerce) transactions.

VirtualLogix VLX for Mobile Handsets virtualization technology will be incorporated into the Freescale Semiconductor i.MX31 multimedia applications processor to create an isolated Trusted Execution Environment (TEE), independent of the main application open operating system (open OS), which protects mobile devices from m-commerce security threats.

By adding VLX realtime virtualization on the i.MX31 applications processor, the open OS is securely isolated from a closed TEE where m-commerce transactions safely occur on the mobile phone or device. These measures protect against m-commerce security threats such as keystroke logging and phishing attacks.

VirtualLogix Conforms to Open Mobile Terminal Platform Security

May 22, 2008 by Robin Wauters Leave a Comment

VirtualLogix announced its continued commitment to the Open Mobile Terminal Platform (OMTP) by submitting a Product Profile Statement in conformance with the organization’s new mobile hardware security recommendations designed to help protect against threats such as malware and fraud attacks. The OMTP is an operator-sponsored forum that gathers and drives mobile terminal requirements.

According to the press release, VirtualLogix VLX for Mobile Handsets is among the first products to conform to the “Advanced Trusted Environment” security recommendations through the OMTP Product Profile Statement.

In its “Advanced Trusted Environment” paper, OMTP focuses on the full set of hardware security requirements that will enable new mobile services to be run in a protected and secure environment. In addition to its Recommendations Papers, OMTP offers its Product Profile process, an online tool that enables network operators, device manufacturers and platform and technology providers to quickly compare and contrast technology offerings that can deliver compliance against the OMTP Recommendations. By conforming to the new “Advanced Trusted Environment” requirements VirtualLogix is helping set the baseline for hardware security in mobile devices for the next five to ten years.

[Source: EDA Geek]

Motorola Joins Investors Behind VirtualLogix (Update)

April 21, 2008 by Robin Wauters Leave a Comment

According to PC World, Motorola has joined Cisco, Intel and Texas Instruments in funding mobile virtualization company VirtualLogix (see our previous coverage). Update: the official release went over the wire.

VirtualLogix lets a user access two separate operating systems on the same handset with its VLX for Mobile Handsets product line – allowing them to share some resources like memory, but also keeping other areas, such as applications, securely apart.

Today, the company plans to announce that Motorola is a new investor in the company. Motorola is interested in VirtualLogix primarily for its mobile phones, but has also expressed an interest in using it for virtualization in its network equipment, reportedly said Peter Richards, CEO of VirtualLogix.

More when the official announcement comes in!

Update: the official word is in, but doesn’t provide much more details. Motorola made the equity investment through Motorola Ventures, its strategic capital arm, without disclosing the size of the investment.

Motorola joins VirtualLogix’s current investors Atlas Venture, Cisco Systems, DFJ Esprit, Index Ventures, Intel Capital and Texas Instruments. The company raised $16 million in series B last July, and got an extra (undisclosed) equity investment from Texas Instruments last December. The total amount invested in the company so far is $28 million, and the company says it is open to more strategic investors joining the club.

Noteworthy, however, is the comment that was added by our media contact, which shows Motorola’s ambition:

“Motorola is rising to the challenge of competing against competitors like the iPhone to develop disruptive new handsets, that will be less expensive to develop, while providing a much richer user experience. Virtualization can give one phone two different personalities, making it possible to switch between work functionality and fun applications, even between plans and accounts on one device.”

[Source: SMS Text News]