Microsoft boosts IoT offering with Express Logic acquisition

Microsoft has acquired Express Logic, a developer of real-time operating systems (RTOS) for internet of things (IoT) and edge devices for an undisclosed sum.The deal will see Express Logic’s ThreadX RTOS, supporting software and engineering staff join Microsoft’s growing IoT device technology portfolio, according to the company’s CEO William E. Lamie. “Now as part of Microsoft, we believe our customers will be even better positioned to unlock exciting new capabilities of the IoT,” Lamie wrote in a blog post. Founded in 1996 and based in San Diego, Express Logic’s ThreadX RTOS complements Microsoft’s security offering in the micro controller space, Azure Sphere. According to Microsoft, ThreadX RTOS has been deployed more than 6.2 billion times, making it one of the most used for micro controller units (MCUs) globally, “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,” Microsoft Azure IoT director Sam George said in a blog post.