Phoenix Technologies, the maker of BIOS software for most of the world's PCs, plans to unveil next month a software environment for PCs and other devices that creates a "bunker" in which critical utilities can be stored.

The protected space could hold utilities for self-healing, diagnostics, virus protection, emergency Internet access, and remote desktop rebuilds that could be accessed quickly even after a system crash, according to a Phoenix statement. Software in this space, located outside the operating system, could help protect systems against viruses and worms, the company said.

Phoenix, along with partners including Intel, Microsoft, Toshiba, and Dell Computer, will unveil the standards-based environment on February 18, according to David Tractenberg, a representative of Phoenix, in San Jose, California.

[ Read more ]