Tech Lover 9

Is seems that some of the latest buzz concerning mobile cloud computing is handset, or smartphone, virtualization. Creating completely separate profiles through virtualizing the handset opens completely new possibilities in terms of usage scenarios. This includes, for example, to integrate both a business profile and a personal profile in the same device – without coinciding any information or applications. Storing copies of the profile(s) in the Cloud means that users can replicate and shift between devices – still maintaining the same profile and keep a high level of data assurance by storing the data in the Cloud.


Last year, VMware introduced its mobile cloud platform, called Mobile Virtualization Platform (MVP), that’s aimed at supporting separate personal and corporate profiles on the same handset, e.g. a employee owned handset. Each profile runs in a completely isolated container so that OS’s, applications and data belonging to each profile, personal or corporate, are only accessible within the appropriate profile. So, running a hypervisor on the handset directly will isolate the profiles and create a virtualized infrastructure.

VMware recently announced a partnership with LG Electronics about running the MVP on a Android enabled LG smartphone. With rising smartphone sales, the need for a combined work-personal smartphone becomes increasingly stronger – as most users prefer to carry only one handset. Using virtulization at the handset level seems to solve many of the associated security challenges and risks as work related and personal profiles should be completely separated and isolated. Normally, this would include apps, contacts and data.

Another important player in the mobile virtualization domain, OK Labs, developed a “Microvisor” (its mobile hypervisor) that was installed in the Motorola Evoke QA4 in 2009 – probably making it the world’s first virtualized smartphone.

Otherwise, the three main benefits of mobile virtualization, as identified by some experts, include:

• Convergence of corporate/personal profile
• Smartphone capabilities on feature phones (or device commoditization)
• Faster development of new phone variant and fragmentation reduction

Other important benefits sometimes mentioned are lower cost phones through faster development times and increased security through isolated user profiles. Both of these seem obvious benefits.
I foresee that in 2011 we will see some big announcements and further steps towards mobile virtualization. In the race for faster, better, cheaper and more secure handsets, mobile virtualization is certain to become an important element. Mobile virtualization also extends to netbooks like iPads, further blurring the distinction between typical desktop virtualization on PCs and mobile devices. I think its likely that virtualization vendors will in fact integrate mobile virtualization features into their existing desktop virtualization product lines.

In the meantime, I would welcome your views and comments.