Microsoft acquires ThreadX RTOS developer in IoT push
Designed specifically for deeply embedded, real-time, and IoT applications, Express Logic’s ThreadX RTOS has over 6.2 billion deployments – making it one of the most deployed RTOSs in the world according to VDC Research. This popularity, says Microsoft, is driven by demand for technology to support resource constrained environments, especially those that require safety and security.
“With this acquisition, we will unlock access to billions of new connected endpoints, grow the number of devices that can seamlessly connect to Azure and enable new intelligent capabilities,” says Sam George, Director, Azure IoT in a blog post announcing the acquisition. “Express Logic’s ThreadX RTOS joins Microsoft’s growing support for IoT devices and is complementary with Azure Sphere, our premier security offering in the microcontroller space.”
The goal, says the company, is to make Express Logic’s ThreadX RTOS available as an option for real-time processing requirements on an Azure Sphere device and also enable ThreadX-powered devices to connect to Azure IoT Edge devices when the IoT solution calls for edge computing capabilities.
While the company says it recommends Azure Sphere for the most secured connections to the cloud, in highly constrained devices where Azure Sphere isn’t possible it recommends Express Logic’s ThreadX RTOS over other RTOS options in the industry because of its additional certifications and out-of-the-box connectivity to Azure IoT Hub.
“As we’ve stated consistently in the past, our primary goal is to simplify IoT – from the cloud all the way down to the smallest MCU based devices,” says George. “We do this by meeting our customers where they are with the right developer tools, software and intelligent cloud services to manage their solutions at scale. Express Logic’s technology and team will be an incredible addition to Microsoft in our quest to give every customer the ability to transform their businesses, and the world at large, with connected solutions.”
The details of the deal were not disclosed.
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