Phoenix Technologies, makers of the BIOS of the same name, announced today a partnership with Opera software that will give its Hyperspace virtual Linux environment instant-on Internet browsing.

Last week, Phoenix Technologies announced Hyperspace would be receiving Corel LinDVD, enabling systems running Hyperspace to access DVD drives while the core OS is asleep, rebooting, or even if it has failed.

Hyperspace is a compact Linux environment that runs independently beside a system's core OS, making certain applications accessible at any time. Now through its partnership with Opera, the company's trademark browser is available in Phoenix' virtual environment.

"We sought the most robust technology for mobile PCs in the industry to deploy a browser optimized for HyperSpace. By working with Opera, we can ensure users will enjoy a dynamic online experience seconds after turning on their PCs," said Woody Hobbs, President and CEO of Phoenix Technologies, "And once Windows has fully booted, users will be able to quickly and easily toggle back and forth between their Windows applications and the instant-on, always-available HyperSpace environment. An added benefit is that HyperSpace delivers an extra two hours of battery life on the average notebook."

Hyperspace is at the crux of what Phoenix Technologies calls "PC 3.0," or the mobile computing environment based around security, ease-of-use, and above all, virtualization. Applications such as Opera and LinDVD will behave like discrete instant-on appliances that can be used for embedded security, remote maintenance, repair, and battery conservation.