Virtual Computer emerges from stealth mode and goes after the laptop market

Virtual Computer has emerged from stealth mode as a desktop virtualization company introducing what it calls “next-generation laptop connectivity.” While still very much stealthy about specifics, the company says it plans on delivering solutions that capitalize on virtualization technology to reduce the cost of managing corporate PCs while improving their reliability, security, and usability.

With a Series A round of funding from Highland Capital and Flybridge Capital, Virtual Computer is led by a veteran team of Boston-area technology executives who are recognized experts in security, open source, and virtualization technologies — each also having success launching companies such as Virtual Iron, Guardent, Axiowave, and Nexabit.

A name that most of you will remember is Alex Vasilevsky. He is a co-founder of Virtual Computer and takes on the role of CTO for the new company. Alex has a great background in the virtualization space and was a co-founder of Virtual Iron.

Adding to the company’s virtualization expertise, the other co-founder, Dan McCall, brings a strong security background to Virtual Computer and takes on the role of president and CEO. Before starting Virtual Computer, McCall was a co-founder of Guardent, which was sold to VeriSign for $145 million; he spent the next year as a VeriSign vice president.

The new company isn’t alone. The big three virtualization players all have products attempting to answer a similar problem. VMware sells its ACE solution, Microsoft now has a solution thanks to the acquisition of Kidaro, and Citrix has its XenDesktop product which it launched in May.

But Virtual Computer says that it is coming at the problem in a different way from the other virtualization companies. They say their solution isolates a laptop’s hardware, operating system, applications, and user data and operates those components remotely without a network connection. This, they claim, results in unprecedented levels of security, cost savings, and manageability on hundreds to thousands of laptops used by a company’s remote and field workforce.

“Virtualization technology has already yielded clear cost savings and efficiency gains in the datacenter environment,” said Vasilevsky. “Notebook PCs along with the growth in remote workers represent a huge challenge for IT organizations looking to take advantage of the productivity gains available from virtualization. Virtual Computer will be the first to deliver on the promise of desktop virtualization without compromising on cost, performance, mobility, or end-user experience.”

There doesn’t seem to be much more information on the company’s product plans just yet, although it sounds like they may be attending VMworld next week. Stay tuned!