Google acquires Cameyo to integrate Windows application virtualization into ChromeOS

Google is acquiring software virtualization company Cameyo in an effort to deeply integrate support for virtualized Windows applications into ChromeOS. Google was already working closely with Cameyo and is now bringing this essential virtualization expertise and technology in-house.

Google partnered with Cameyo last year to offer a virtual app experience for legacy Windows desktop apps that have been integrated into ChromeOS. This included local file system integration, virtual applications like progressive web apps, and even improved clipboard support.

Cameyo’s Virtual App Delivery (VAD) integration into ChromeOS is designed for businesses looking to move away from Windows or even add some ChromeOS devices to the mix. It allows companies to continue running virtualized Windows applications on ChromeOS without exposing a full version of Windows, so that applications appear to be running on ChromeOS side-by-side with Chrome and other web applications.

“This acquisition will lead to even deeper integration of these virtualized applications into ChromeOS,” Cameyo co-founder and CMO Robb Henshaw said in a statement to On the edge. “More integrations will not only improve the end user experience, but will also make it even simpler for IT administrators to deploy and ship these applications to their users.”

As more and more applications move to cloud and web-based technologies, Google has a huge opportunity to entice more companies to consider ChromeOS over Windows – especially with improved support for virtualized applications from Cameyo.

Google is on a mission to promote Chromebooks in education and business, following a fairly lukewarm consumer response to ChromeOS. Most of Google’s Chromebook growth has come from the US education sector, with US shipments accounting for more than 80% of global Chromebook shipments in Q2 2023, according to Canalys.