VMware, Verizon partner on mobile virtualization; May give Android enterprise boost
In a move that could bolster the bring your own device argument, Verizon and VMware said they will partner on mobile virtualization for Android devices.
Specifically, Verizon will use VMware's Horizon Mobile technology for business customers. VMware Mobile Horizon will allow IT departments to provision manage and cut off mobile devices over air. In a nutshell, Verizon and VMware will segment devices for both professional and personal uses.
VMware Horizon Mobile will also access the applications in the Android Market. LG will be among the first handset makers to use the VMware-Verizon virtualization bundle. According to GigaOm, VMware, which also announced a pact with Telefonica, ultimately wants to write its virtualization code into Android.
Great Debate: Bring Your Own Device: Reality or Pipe Dream
Virtualization has been seen as a way for businesses to secure data and enterprise apps on multiple devices. If Verizon and VMware can gain traction, Android devices may look more appealing to chief information officers.
At the Gartner Symposium in Orlando, a bevy of technology executives have said they are favoring Apple's iOS because it's more consistent and easier to secure than Android, which has various flavors and can run differently depending on what hardware is used.
According to VMware, Horizon Mobile allows users to have a corporate and personal profile. The IT department would be able to alter the corporate side of the phone.
