Lenovo buys Phoenix Technologies’ firmware business
I guess we all saw “Phoenix BIOS” at some point in our engagement with PCs. You should probably know that this name will now belong to Lenovo.
Lenovo has completed the acquisition of Phoenix Technologies’ firmware business. The deal covers Phoenix’s BIOS technology unit registered in Dublin, Ireland, including related intellectual property and firmware expertise.
According to Lenovo, the acquisition brings firmware development and core software expertise into the company. Lenovo says this will give it more direct control over firmware across its PC portfolio and later across other AI-enabled devices.
By bringing firmware development in-house, we are strengthening our core engineering capabilities and gaining greater control over one of the most critical layers of the computing experience. This will enable us to accelerate innovation, enhance security, and deepen our vertical integration, while also unlocking meaningful cost efficiencies. With its strong heritage and leadership in firmware, Phoenix Technologies brings differentiated expertise that will further strengthen our portfolio.”
— Lenovo
Phoenix Technologies has been one of Lenovo’s BIOS vendors for more than 20 years. The company has supplied BIOS technology for ThinkPad systems, making this deal a continuation of an existing supplier relationship rather than a new technical partnership.
Phoenix BIOS
The company says it was founded in 1979 and develops firmware for computers, tablets, notebooks, servers, embedded systems, and other computing platforms. Its product list includes Phoenix SecureCore, Phoenix SecureCore for Servers, ServerBMC, Phoenix OmniCore, FirmCare, and UEFI/BIOS utilities.
For Lenovo, this is about bringing more of the technology in-house. Firmware runs before the operating system even starts, so it handles things like hardware initialization, security features, platform settings, and updates. Lenovo says Phoenix also adds engineering know-how and existing ties with major silicon vendors.
Source: Lenovo