Google has purchased Cameyo, a firm that creates virtualization solutions for running Windows applications on ChromeOS devices, for an undisclosed sum.
In a blog post, Cameyo CEO Andrew Miller and Google product lead Naveen Viswanatha explained that the acquisition would enhance ChromeOS, Google’s lightweight Linux-based operating system, by providing users with greater access to Windows applications “without the hassle of complex installations or updates.”
“By combining the power of ChromeOS with Cameyo’s innovative virtual application delivery technology, we are empowering businesses to modernize their IT infrastructure while preserving their investments in existing software,” Miller and Viswanatha stated.
Cameyo CTO Eyal Dotan founded the company in 2018, with the goal of developing a platform to virtualize Windows applications for use on non-Windows machines and even within web browsers. Cameyo’s methodology involves packaging an application, along with its dependencies, into a standalone, self-contained executable that includes a virtualization engine capable of running on various operating systems.
Last year, possibly hinting at the acquisition, Google partnered with Cameyo to roll out features like Windows app local file system integration and the functionality to deliver virtual Windows apps as progressive web apps, which are apps hosted in datacenters that operate within browsers.
As The Verge’s Tom Warren points out in his article on Cameyo, Google’s been aiming to promote ChromeOS in business and education settings following a tepid consumer response. With Cameyo’s technology, organizations seeking to transition away from Windows — or to use both Windows and ChromeOS — have a potentially more attractive option, especially as more applications move to cloud and web-based platforms.
Cameyo asserts on its website that hundreds of organizations, including school districts and financial institutions, are already utilizing its software.
