Google Buys Cameyo To Simplify Running Windows Apps On ChromeOS
In a strategic move to enhance its ChromeOS offerings, Google has announced the acquisition of Cameyo, a company known for its development of virtualization tools that enable the running of Windows applications on ChromeOS devices. The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed, but the integration of Cameyo’s technology with Google’s lightweight, Linux-based operating system is anticipated to significantly ease access to Windows applications for ChromeOS users.
Andrew Miller, CEO of Cameyo, and Naveen Viswanatha, Google product lead, highlighted the acquisition's potential to simplify the user experience by eliminating the need for 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," they explained in a collaborative blog post.
Cameyo CTO Eyal Dotan, who co-founded the startup with Miller in January 2018, set out with the goal of creating a platform capable of virtualizing Windows applications to run on non-Windows machines, including web browsers. This is achieved through Cameyo's unique approach of app virtualization, which allows applications to be served from various environments such as public clouds like AWS, private clouds, on-premises datacenters, or hybrid cloud setups.
In a move that seemed to pave the way for this acquisition, Google had previously partnered with Cameyo to introduce features aimed at integrating Windows apps more seamlessly into ChromeOS. These features included local file system integration for Windows applications and the delivery of virtual Windows apps as progressive web apps - apps hosted in datacenters and accessible via browsers.
The acquisition comes as part of Google’s broader strategy to position ChromeOS more attractively in sectors beyond its initial consumer market, particularly in business and education. Tom Warren of The Verge points out that Google has been keen on promoting ChromeOS in these sectors, where the demand for versatile, cloud-based application solutions is on the rise. With Cameyo’s technology, organizations that are looking to transition away from Windows or that wish to use Windows alongside ChromeOS could find a more compelling solution.
Cameyo’s platform is already trusted by hundreds of entities, including educational institutions and financial organizations, underscoring its established reliability and effectiveness in providing virtual application solutions. This acquisition by Google not only underscores the tech giant's commitment to enhancing ChromeOS’s functionality and appeal but also marks a significant step forward in its strategy to make ChromeOS a more viable option for a wide range of users, leveraging web-based technologies and the increasing shift of applications to the cloud.
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