BlueStacks offers access to Android apps on Windows computers

by Steven Mostyn - May 25 2011, 11:29

If you don’t have an Android-powered smartphone or tablet device, but would really like to ‘get in on the action’ where the Android Market is concerned, start-up BlueStacks claims to have a workable backdoor.

More pointedly, the tech company has developed virtualisation technology that will run Google’s Android mobile operating system on Windows-powered x86 computer hardware (via mouse, keyboard or touch-screen interfaces).

“This is not like running two copies of Windows,” explained Rosen Sharma, president and CEO of BlueStacks in a PCWorld report. “The traditional performance hit when you think of virtualization is not relevant.”

With performance issues evidently not a problem for prospective users, Sharma also said the virtualisation platform will boast quick and easy access as clicking on a specific desktop icon is all that’s required when wanting to run an Android application.

Clearly confident with regard to uptake, BlueStacks has revealed that leading chipmakers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have shown an interest in pre-installing the software onto hardware.

Meanwhile, open availability for individually downloading the technology should be in place before the close of summer. 

If the Android virtualisation technology functions well and is snapped up by desktop and laptop owners, the company plans to craft similar platforms for other non-Windows operating systems such as Meego and webOS.

BlueStacks is expected to showcase its wares during today’s Citrix Synergy conference in San Francisco.

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