Virtualized Android Mobile Phone - VirtualLogix

Virtuallogix has unveiled virtualized Android mobile phone environment for
ST-Ericsson cellular system. This solution enable developers to create low cost mobile phones that provide state-of-the-art user experience and services while
still preserving
multimedia and communication performance. VirtualLogix will showcase its VLX
virtualization running Android stack and an RTOS on an ST-Ericsson
reference design with a single ARM9 core, at the Mobile World Congress in
Barcelona, February 16-19, 2009.

The CEO of VirtualLogix, Glenda Dorchak, said that by using VirtualLogix’ VLX virtualization software to run both the
Linux OS and a Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) simultaneously, developers can
create a wealth of Value Added Service to mobile-phone users. With its support for cost-effective
ST-Ericsson cellular system solutions, VLX virtualization technology increase the number of applications that can run on
the mobile-phones far less expensive than a Smartphone.

About VLX Virtualization

VirtualLogix real-time virtualization technology enables multiple
Operating Systems, called guest OS’s, to run simultaneously on the same
single or multi core processor. The guest OS’s are independent from each
other, but can cooperate via communication mechanisms. VirtualLogix VLX
virtualization technology relies primarily on partitioning of resources
between the guest OS’s and on virtualization of resources which cannot
be partitioned. An abstraction layer named VLX Virtualizer, manages key
system resources to isolate the guest OS’s from the underlying hardware.
Typically, physical memory is partitioned between the guest OS’s while the
CPU, FPU, MMU, RTC, and Interrupt Controller are virtualized by VirtualLogix
VLX.

VirtualLogix’ VLX virtualization and Partition

Designed for embedded systems which require
real-time performance, VLX delivers a high performance communication capability
between software running in separate
containers on the same processor. Through a shared device framework, VLX
provides a structured mechanism for sharing peripheral devices
between different execution containers to enable multi-vendor support. VirtualLogix’
virtualization software allows developers to predictably add new functionality
to mobile devices post-delivery.

Senior VP of ST-Ericsson, Dan Rabinovitsj, said that the VLX virtualization software has helped
ST-Ericsson to provide product flexibility, differentiation and innovation to
their customers. VLX virtualization technology brings post-delivery value for
OEMs, ODMs and operators looking to introduce multimedia-rich feature
mobile-phones, while significantly reduce both cost and time-to-market.

About ST-Ericsson

ST-Ericsson is a joint venture company established on Feb 2009, that
united the mobile platform division of Ericsson (Nasdaq: ERIC) 
and wireless semiconductor division of STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM). ST-Ericsson is
focused to deliver state-of-the-art mobile
multimedia, connectivity and platform solutions including reference designs for GSM, EDGE, WCDMA, HSPA, TD-SCDMA and LTE.
ST-Ericsson’s multimedia
and application processors will
power next-generation devices by its , commitment to support all major operating
systems. The company’s connectivity and broadcast
solutions span Bluetooth, GPS, FM, NFC (Near Field Communications), WLAN and USB
to provide the wealth wireless experience. ST-Ericsson’s mobile multimedia,
connectivity and platform solutions cover all market segments, from entry level to smartphone, and
can be delivered
as individual components as well as completely integrated solutions.

About Google Android

Android is an open source software for mobile devices
developed by Google and Open Handset Alliance (a consortium of 48 hardware,
software, and telecom companies). Android is a software stack for mobile
devices that includes an OS (operating system, based on the Linux kernel), 
middleware and key applications. Developers have full access to the
same framework APIs used by the core applications. Any application can publish
its capabilities and any other application may then make use (reuse) of
those capabilities. This same mechanism allows components to be replaced by
the user.

Google Android Components

Android includes a set of C/C++ libraries including System
C, Media, Surface manager, LibWebCore, SGL (2D graphics engine), 3D graphics,
FreeType and SQLite library. Every Android application runs in its own process,
with its own instance of the Dalvik VM (virtual machine). Dalvik has been
written so that a device can run multiple VMs efficiently. Android includes a
set of core applications including an browser, email client, contacts, SMS
program, calendar, maps, and others, all written in Java. Most of the Android
code are released under the Apache free-software and open source license.

Resources:

• Press release: VirtualLogix Delivers First Virtualized Android Phone
  Solution (http://www.virtuallogix.com/company/news-and-events/single-news.html?encryptionKey=6d0f846348a856321729a2f36734d1a79bd2450b4eb893ab37fd48ec2cb56855d67b1526196adbf0636f8b27b4388aaf&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=85&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=511&cHash=c75e859d4b)
• Virtualization co. aims Android at low-cost feature-phones (http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS4024875779.html?kc=rss)
• What is virtualization (http://www.virtuallogix.com/products/what-is-virtualization.html)
• What is Android (http://code.google.com/android/what-is-android.html)
• Android  (Operating System) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Android)
• Android at Open Handset Alliance
  (http://www.openhandsetalliance.com/android_overview.html)