Open Kernel Labs recognised as mass market mobile software supplier

Stan Beer
Wednesday, 14 January 2009 05:52

IT Industry - Strategy

Open Kernel Labs (OK Labs), a NICTA spinoff which provides embedded virtualization software for mobile phones and broadband internet devices, has been recognised among the ranks of software suppliers with products on 100 million or more mobile handsets. OK Labs' embedded hypervisor, OKL4, was named this week as a member of the VisionMobile 100 Million Club.

In the two years since OK Labs debut in the mobile marketplace, OKL4 has made its way into more than 250 million mobile handsets, the company claims. The 100 Million Club recognizes the opportunity presented by the billion unit annual mobile handset market, and acknowledges companies that lead the sector in volume and innovation.

According to OK Labs, the company is now one of only 23 companies to reach ubiquitous deployment on more than 100 million handsets, placing it in elite company. 100 Million Club members include Adobe, Qualcomm, Nokia, Symbian, Red Bend, Purple Labs, NXP and Mentor Graphics.

According to VisionMobile research, just twenty-five products from these companies have managed to overcome the commercial and technical challenges inherent in the mobile industry to reach truly ubiquitous deployment.

“This distinction from VisionMobile puts OK Labs on par with some of the world’s largest technology players,” stated Steve Subar, president and CEO, OK Labs.

 “Handset OEMs and operators deploying our platform also look to OKL4 for enhanced security and reliability in their next 250 million shipments.”

Firms earning the 100 Million distinction develop and license software for mass-market phones and offer products ranging from text and graphical input engines to application environments.

“There are 250-300 companies licensing mobile and embedded software, but only a handful have managed to break through structural and technological barriers into the 100 Million Club,” noted VisionMobile Research Director Andreas Constantinou.

“Mobile is clearly a tough marketplace and VisionMobile is pleased to recognize companies like Open Kernel Labs who do not merely survive but actually achieve scale.”