Google acquires Cameyo to integrate Windows app virtualization into ChromeOS

Google is acquiring software virtualization company Cameyo in a push to deeply integrate virtualized Windows app support into ChromeOS. Google was already working closely with Cameyo, and now it’s bringing this key virtualization expertise and technology in-house.

Google partnered with Cameyo last year to deliver a virtual application experience for legacy Windows desktop apps that was integrated into ChromeOS. This included local file system integration, virtual apps as progressive web apps, and even enhanced clipboard support.

Cameyo’s Virtual App Delivery (VAD) integration into ChromeOS is designed for businesses that are looking to move away from Windows or even add some ChromeOS devices into the mix. It allows businesses to continue running virtualized Windows apps on ChromeOS without exposing a full version of Windows so that apps just feel like they’re running on ChromeOS side by side with Chrome and other web apps.

“This acquisition will lead to even deeper integration of these virtualized apps into ChromeOS,” says Cameyo co-founder and CMO Robb Henshaw in a statement to The Verge. “Further integrations will improve not only the end user experience, but also make it even simpler for IT admins to deploy and push those apps out to their users.”

As more and more apps move to the cloud and web-based technologies, Google has a big opportunity to entice more businesses to consider ChromeOS over Windows — especially with improved virtualized app support from Cameyo.

Google has been on a mission to push Chromebooks in education and business after a rather lukewarm response from consumers to ChromeOS. Most of Google’s Chromebook growth has come from the US education sector, with US shipments accounting for more than 80 percent of global Chromebook shipments in Q2 2023, according to Canalys.