Splashtop Scores ASUS Deal, New Funding

The “instant-on” utility Splashtop will soon reach new masses of users, thanks to two big developments being revealed today. The first is a deal that’ll put it on all ASUS Eee Box B202 Nettop systems. San Jose-based DeviceVM, the program’s manufacturer, will announce the news this morning, The Inquisitr has learned.

The new Eee Box runs on an Intel Atom N270 1.6 GHz processor with 1 GB of DD2 memory and Windows XP. DeviceVM has put together a customized version of Splashtop that’s being branded as Express Gate in the machines.

Splashtop functions as a pre-boot operating environment that lets you hit apps like browsers, e-mail, and other Web utilities right after you power up — without having to wait for your OS to boot. It’s been featured on other ASUS products in the past.

The second development: DeviceVM is preparing to announce a fresh round of funding — $15 million in Series C, led by New Enterprise Associates — to go along with the ASUS news. The company plans on using the money to expand to more markets around the world.