A little over a week after releasing PC software that lets computer users run Android apps, BlueStacks now says it has raised a strategic investment of $ 5.6 million from AMD and Citrix Systems along with funding from existing investors. The funding follows a $ 7.6 million Series A round in May from Ignition Ventures, Radar Partners, Helion Ventures, Redpoint Ventures and Andreessen Horowitz bringing the company’s total funding to $ 14 million.
BlueStacks’ App Player for Windows launched in public alpha on Oct. 11, giving Windows users the chance to play Android apps full screen for the first time. The software, which allows users to resize Android apps at no resolution loss without additional work from developers, has been downloaded in 100 countries, the company said, though it declined to say how many users have signed up.
The new funding will help support this community of users and accelerate development of the product. BlueStacks said a beta will be released later this year and a pro version with access to premium apps like Fruit Ninja and Cut the Rope will be launched by the end of the year. BlueStacks is also working with PC makers to include App Player for Windows on new machines.
The App Player is finding a lot of support, from 100,000 Facebook fans to Android developers who are excited about reaching PC users with their software. And now it looks like AMD and Citrix are also interested in the prospects of BlueStacks virtualization software. Citrix, for example, said it sees an opportunity in applying BlueStacks technology in enterprise IT while AMD said BlueStacks can work with AMD-equipped tablets and PCs, allowing Android apps to tap the horsepower of AMD for their apps.
The rise of BlueStacks is an example of the convergence of mobile and desktop, as the line between the platforms blur over time. Though we’ve talked of the post-PC era, the fact is that PCs will be around for a while and innovations like App Player for Windows show how computers can work alongside mobile devices and participate in the momentum behind mobile apps.
Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
Subscriber content. Sign up for a free trial.
- Flash analysis: Steve Jobs
- Flash analysis: the tech startup investment environment, Q3 2011
- The rise of tablets in the enterprise
