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The OS in the Dell: Volo's AtomAMPD strikes key partnership

As Rick Blaine once noted to Capt. Louis Renault, this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

AtomAMPD, the Volo-based software company that developed the AtomOS operating system used commercially in the U.S., Asia and South America, recently secured a partnership with Dell EMC OEM Solutions, a division of Dell Technologies, which will install AtomOS in its Dell Edge Gateways and Embedded Box PCs to be sold in the U.S. and Asia.

It's a deal that could bring greater visibility to the Silicon Bog company and give the company the ability to focus its work on improving and broadening its software offerings, according to AtomAMPD CEO Dan Field.

Under the deal, Dell will install AtomOS software into its hardware at the factory. The units will be installed and supported by Dell's personnel, who are trained in the AtomOS software and can provide the extra level of support for AtomAMPD.

“It's going to be a pretty good partnership because of our software and their hardware,” Field said. “But also they have the manpower so we can deliver our software in many different countries without having to hire a thousand pairs of boots.”

The AtomOS, a single-priced, multifunctional system that supports business network and communication needs, has made AtomAMPD a David among Goliaths in the industry, but the company has already made a name for itself in regions like Southeast Asia. Linking its business to Dell's name and reputation, Field said, shines a brighter light on AtomAMPD's business for domestic and global customers.

“One of the biggest issues we've had is who's going to support the hardware?” Field said. “How is this rural company in Volo going to be able to take care of things remotely? That's where a company like Dell comes in.”

Interestingly, the partnership is the result of two basic business tenets: Networking and location. Field said they were first introduced to Dell though a telecom client in Singapore who had worked with both companies. They discovered Dell was working on some new hardware and inquired about using their software with the new device. “They sent us a box and we got our software working on it within a week,” he said.

It also turned out that Dell's international operations are headquartered in the Chicago area, so Field followed up locally with the company's global vice president.

“It turned out the combination of our solutions and their solutions just made perfect sense,” he added.

The partnership is expected to benefit clients as well, in terms of financial savings.

“We call the project 'Gamechanger' because we're talking a piece of hardware that sells for $500 and our software,” he said. “Because of that, we can do a complete solution installed for under $3,000 to $4,000, compared to installing something that's $25,000-plus.”

Dell will begin installing the new equipment in clients already served by AtomAMPD, which Field notes sweetened the deal for Dell.

“These are accounts we're bringing to the table. We're dealing with telecoms that are doing $1 billion a year,” he said.

With Dell handling installation and support, Field said his staff can remain focused on the product ... improving the AtomOS software and developing new solutions to meet changing tech trends.

“As the market changes, you need to adapt quickly to new trends,” Field said. “Fortunately, we're small enough and nimble enough to be able to do that.”

Volo-based AtomAMPD's AtomOS software will be installed in Dell Edge Gateways, above, designed for Internet of Things networking, as well as Dell Embedded Box PCs.

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