GD makes mobile play with latest acquisition

General Dynamics Corp. has acquired Open Kernel Labs Inc. in a strategic move that broadens the company’s mobile capabilities in the expanding public-safety broadband and mobile device markets.

Open Kernel Labs will become part of General Dynamics Broadband, a subsidiary of General Dynamics C4 Systems. Financial terms of the deal were not released.

Open Kernel Labs is a privately held corporation headquartered in Chicago. It specializes in virtualization software for securing wireless communications, applications and content for mobile devices and automotive in-vehicle “infotainment” systems, General Dynamics said.

Among its many “Defense-Grade” mobile solutions, the company offers one that effectively and securely separates corporate data and applications from any personal data that a user might have stored on the same device. Such technology allows government and commercial employees to bring in their own mobile devices to work, as it enables the secure use of devices for either personal or business purposes, or for both.

“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, General Dynamics C4 Systems president. “OK Labs’ market-leading expertise in implementing security on commercial devices delivers ease of use and reduced cost to customers.”

The software is already deployed on more than 1.6 billion government and commercial devices worldwide, General Dynamics said.