Freescale Semiconductor and Green Hills Software announce a new alliance grounded in a shared vision for the expanding role of system virtualization technology in ARM-based embedded and mobile applications. The initiative is intended to enable intelligent and dynamic use models, reduce device development and production costs, and improve reliability, safety, and security.

The alliance brings together industry leaders in providing ARM architecture-based solutions to the automotive, smart devices and enterprise mobility markets. Green Hills Software is the largest independent vendor of embedded software solutions and a leader in embedded and mobile virtualization and security technology. Freescale is a leading applications processor vendor across a wide range of markets. The company's flagship i.MX 6 family of application processors provides ARM Cortex-A9-based solutions in single-, dual- and four-core versions for consumer, industrial, and automotive markets. The product family's i.MX 6Quad device is distinguished as the industry's only low-power, four-core applications processor based on Cortex-A9 technology to integrate a full 64-bit memory bus.

Freescale's i.MX processors feature advanced silicon-level optimizations to support industry-leading virtualization performance. The company was among the first applications processor vendors to integrate multiple graphic engines, thus enabling dedicated hardware acceleration for multiple virtual domains, ultimately resulting in smooth, responsive performance for user interfaces and applications. Other i.MX virtualization optimizations include the incorporation of TrustZone technology, cryptographic/hashing hardware accelerators, trusted boot and secure storage technologies -- all of which combine with the Green Hills INTEGRITY Multivisor to produce a highly robust virtualized system.

Green Hills Software's INTEGRITY Multivisor on Freescale i.MX application processors will be demonstrated in the Green Hills Software exhibition at ARM TechCon 2011.

"Freescale is pleased to expand its long-time relationship with Green Hills Software to include INTEGRITY Multivisor as a premier security and virtualization solution for current and upcoming versions of i.MX processors," said Bernd Lienhard, vice president and general manager, Multimedia Applications Division, Freescale. "Key factors for the selection of the INTEGRITY Multivisor include its safety and security pedigree, ability to handle instant-on and hard real-time workloads, and the corporate strength and stability of Green Hills Software."

"Embedded and mobile device manufacturers need innovative hardware and software platforms upon which to differentiate and deliver value. Green Hills Software is pleased to provide system virtualization and security solutions for Freescale i.MX processors, which provide awesome multimedia and application processing performance for automotive infotainment systems, enterprise tablets, medical devices, and other smart connected machines," commented Gordon Jones, vice president and general manager, INTEGRITY Secure Virtualization, Green Hills Software.