Monday, January 21, 2008

Tech vets virtualize link between mobile devices and the network

By Christopher Calnan

A co-founder of Virtual Iron Software Inc. is teaming with a co-founder of Guardent Inc. on a stealthy Westford startup that is developing "advanced virtualization" tech to manage mobile devices on networks.

Former Guardent general manager Dan McCall is the CEO of Old Road Computing Corp., and former Virtual Iron vice president of technology Alex Vasilevsky is the new company's treasurer and secretary.

Guardent was based in Waltham from 1999 until 2004, when it was sold to VeriSign Inc. in a cash-and-stock deal worth $145 million. After Guardent was acquired, McCall served as a VeriSign vice president for a year and then spent two years as a consultant.

Before co-founding Lowell-based Virtual Iron in 2003, Vasilevsky was the CTO of Maynard-based Ucentric Systems Inc., which was acquired in 2005 by Motorola Inc.

McCall declined to provide details about the company to protect its intellectual property, which he said is still being developed.

"This is a stealth company and a stealth name," said McCall. He said plans include the public release of product details and a permanent company name some time in February.

Vasilevsky, who stepped down from his Virtual Iron daily duties in October 2007 to launch the new company, also declined to talk specifics about Old Road Computing's technology, except to say it targets IT departments.

Old Road incorporated in November 2007, according to filings with the Massachusetts Secretary of State's office. It has raised $6 million in investment from seven investors, according to a recent filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

McCall and Vasilevsky are the only two investors identified by name on that SEC filing. Jon Karlen, a general partner for IDG Ventures, a Boston venture capital firm, is listed as a board member of Old Road Computing. Karlen didn't return a phone call seeking comment.