General Dynamics has acquired Open Kernel Labs, Inc. (OK Labs), expanding its capabilities as a provider of secure mobile devices for public safety, civilian, military and commercial customers as well as in-vehicle infotainment systems (IVI) for the commercial market. OK Labs, a Chicago-based, privately held corporation, is a leading provider of virtualization software for securing wireless communications, applications and content for mobile devices and automotive in-vehicle infotainment systems. 

The value of the cash transaction has not been disclosed.

OK Labs will become part of General Dynamics Broadband, a subsidiary of General Dynamics C4 Systems.  This transaction enhances General Dynamics' ability to meet growing government and military needs for secure computing on commercial handheld devices. 

OK Labs' "Defense-Grade" solutions for commercial devices enable secure separation of corporate data and applications from a user's personal data stored or accessed on the same device. This feature broadens General Dynamics' range of device offerings in the expanding public-safety broadband market and mobile device markets, and complements General Dynamics' 40-year history of providing encryption technology to protect voice and data communications classified up to the Top Secret level.

"Government and corporate CIOs want the advantages of today's commercial mobile devices without having to sacrifice the integrity and security of their networks," said Chris Marzilli, president of General Dynamics C4 Systems. "OK Labs' market-leading expertise in implementing security on commercial devices delivers ease of use and reduced cost to customers."