Mobile Device Virtualization

By Author: Susan Smith
Total Articles: 132
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Consider these facts - Most smartphones today having specs once found in high-end personal computers. The have multi-core processors, Gigabits of RAM capacity, and high storage volumes. Further, with 4G LTE, the data connection speed on a mobile device is as good as, if not better than broadband. Also, enterprise platforms like Windows and Linux now have mobile versions, and run shrink-wrap applications. Lastly, most enterprises today have deployed some form of server and desktop virtualization, and have seen the benefits it provides.

Given the above facts, it is no surprise that virtualization is now spreading to the mobile arena.

What is MDV?

Quite simply, mobile device virtualization is the process of running more than one (generally no more than 2) operating systems on a mobile device independent of each other. The OSes can either be instances of the same mobile OS (like android) or one mobile and the other a traditional one like Windows or Linux.

Though similar, desktop virtualization and MDV are different. Firstly, the processors on smart devise don’t natively ...
... support virtualization. Therefore paravirtualization (using a software interface for virtualization) needs to be employed.

There are 2 methods of virtualizing the mobile devices. One way is to partner with an OEM, and create a virtual container with root hardware level access, while the other, simpler and therefore more often used, method is to run the container as a secure app.

Advantages

Security – The most important non-technology factor impacting (positively) the uptake of MDV is the dreaded four-letter word – BYOD. With the smart devices being used more frequently as the enterprise app endpoints, IT security teams are clamoring for managing the associated risks. A virtual system that they can control and manage even remotely gives them the much needed respite. The root access option is more secure than the app, but mandates OEM involvement, and therefore is very time consuming.

Productivity – Employees can now access their office PC through the container OS on their smartphone. This allows for on-the-go productivity wherever they have viable network connectivity to their corporate network. This benefit finds many takers in the fields of sales and field services, as the nature of the job demands anytime, anywhere access.

Segregation – From the employee side, the biggest benefit is that they can now use the device they want, with the apps and data they want, and still use it as a business tool. The corporate and personal data is kept segregated and secure from one another. If the device gets lost or stolen, the geeks in IT can remotely wipe the corporate data without touching the personal data.

Trade-offs

User experience – This one is a no-brainer. Just the fact that the hypervisor is running on a part of the compute capacity of the device guarantees that its performance will not be as good as expected. A single device is now masquerading as 2 devices. The switching between the two personalities is expected to be smooth and fast. Please note the word ‘expected’. The performance of the hypervisor platforms for mobile devices today is not where is should be. Most users will opt for carrying 2 devices performing at 100% than one performing at 60-70%.

Mr. Popular left out – Almost all MDV platforms today cater to the Android ecosystem, which leaves out the most popular phone in the world, the apple of Apple’s eyes –iPhone. This effectively rules out a majority of the workforce from being included in the virtual initiative.

The author is associated with one of the top mobile app developers company, mobile application development Dallas firms and mobile application companies in Noida