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Esper Foundation
Your POS hardware still works. Its Windows 10 IoT LTSB 2016 support doesn’t outlast October 2026 — Esper Foundation is an Android operating system Esper builds from AOSP for ARM or x86 hardware, patched monthly and updated over the air, and its Firebolt service moves x86 Windows POS and kiosks onto it — clean, or as a dual-boot beside Windows.
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How it’s rated
Full scoreboard ↓Quick answer
The Esper platform family
This page covers Esper Foundation — the custom Android OS, including the Firebolt Windows-to-Android conversion. The rest:
Quick facts
30-second orientation- Product
- A custom AOSP-based Android OS for dedicated ARM or x86 devices, with OTA updates run through Esper
- Maker
- Esper.io Inc., Bellevue, Washington; founded 2018, led by co-founder and CEO Yadhu Gopalan
- Runs on
- Bare metal, as a dual-boot beside Windows, or inside a virtual machine
- Support
- Monthly security patches; Esper offers up to 10 years of security patches and OS updates
- Firebolt
- Esper-assisted conversion of x86 Windows POS and kiosks: clean install or dual-boot (Android 13 and below)
- Price
- Quoted: “scoped and priced to your specific hardware and peripheral configuration”
- Requires
- An Esper Deploy subscription: Genesis $2, Bridge $4, Architect $6 a device a month, 25-device minimum
- Assurance
- Foundation OS sits inside Esper’s ISO/IEC 27001:2022 scope; SOC 2 Type 2 and PCI DSS also held
- India
- Bengaluru office, but the cloud runs in North America on AWS; no India region and no INR price
- In India via
- TechBag — hardware audit, Firebolt scoping, quote with GST, first pilot devices
Understand managed Android operating systems before you buy one
Most product pages skip this. We start here — so you buy a capability, not a buzzword.
What is a managed Android OS?
An Android build you control, made from open-source AOSP, with patches and OS updates sent over the air.
Windows kiosks on an expiring OS vs Esper Foundation — the honest table
What consolidation actually replaces, dimension by dimension.
| Dimension | Windows kiosks on an expiring OS | Esper Foundation |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10 IoT LTSB 2016, unsupported after October 2026 | Foundation, an AOSP build with monthly patches |
| Hardware | Replace every unit to get a supported OS | Keep x86 units; Firebolt re-images or dual-boots them |
| Patching | Field visits and imaging when an update breaks | Over-the-air builds on the date you choose |
| Support horizon | Fixed by the Windows release you are stuck on | Up to 10 years of OS support, by Esper’s account |
| Management | A separate tool per hardware generation | The same Esper Deploy console for the whole fleet |
| What it is NOT | — | Standalone, list-priced, or hosted in India |
The cheapest test is one store: convert two units inside the 30-day Deploy trial and run a full trading day on them.
The five pieces of the platform
Vendors love diagrams; buyers need to know what they’re actually operating. Here’s the whole platform, demystified.
OS image
An Android build Esper makes from AOSP, the open-source base, for ARM or x86 boards, so a device needs no Google-certified firmware to run it.
Install mode
Foundation can own the whole device, share it with an existing Windows install as a dual-boot, or run inside a virtual machine on the host.
OTA channel
Monthly security patches and OS updates are delivered over the air through Esper, and you choose when each build goes out to the fleet.
Deploy
Every Foundation device is enrolled in Esper Deploy, the per-device management plan; Esper does not sell Foundation or Firebolt without it.
An AOSP build for ARM or x86 — on bare metal, as a dual-boot or in a VM, patched monthly over the air through Esper.
Six capabilities. Run, convert, maintain.
Esper Foundation gives dedicated devices an Android OS that Esper patches and you update on your own schedule.
Android without Google’s layer
Built from AOSP rather than a GMS build, so dedicated hardware runs Android without Google’s certification step.
One OS, three ways to run
The same Foundation build family covers ARM and x86 devices, on bare metal, as a dual-boot, or in a virtual machine.
Windows out, Android in
Firebolt’s clean-install path wipes x86 Windows POS or kiosk units and puts Foundation in its place, scoped by Esper.
Keep Windows beside it
The second Firebolt path leaves Windows on the disk and adds Foundation alongside, with Android 13 as the ceiling.
A security build every month
Esper ships monthly security patches for Foundation and offers up to 10 years of patch and OS-update support.
You pick the release day
Updates travel over the air through Esper on your timing; on Architect, Pipelines can stage an OS rollout in waves.
Watch Esper Foundation in action
Esper on replacing Windows 10 IoT LTSB 2016 (2026), installing Foundation on x86 hardware (2022), and choosing AOSP or GMS for a fleet (2022). All from Esper’s official channel.
Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSB 2016 End-of-Life is Coming: What Are Your Replacement Options?
Esper on the choices for POS and kiosk hardware still running Windows 10 IoT LTSB 2016, the case Firebolt was built for.
Installing Esper Foundation for Android on an x86 device in under 5 minutes
A start-to-finish install of Foundation on x86 hardware; the interface is from 2022, the install path is the point.
Deciding Between AOSP and GMS for Your Device Fleet | Fleet Geek Ep. 3
Why a dedicated fleet might run open-source Android rather than a Google-certified build, from Esper’s Fleet Geek series.
Want a live, India-context walkthrough for your environment?
Book a guided demo →Out-of-support Windows still boots every morning. Foundation gives the same hardware a patched OS.
Here’s what genuinely sets it apart — and exactly where it stops.
A way off Windows 10 IoT LTSB 2016
Microsoft’s extended support for Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSB 2016 ends in October 2026. Firebolt is Esper’s scoped engagement for x86 POS and kiosks on that OS: wipe Windows and install Foundation, or keep Windows as a dual-boot, provided your app has an Android build.
Updates on your timetable, for years
Foundation gets monthly security patches, and Esper offers up to 10 years of support for patches and OS updates. Builds travel over the air through Esper and you decide when each goes out; on Architect, Pipelines stage OS rollouts in waves.
The OS maker also runs the fleet
Esper Deploy runs GMS and AOSP devices in one console, and Seamless Provisioning can enrol Foundation builds at first boot. Esper’s ISO 27001:2022 scope names Foundation OS. Its chief executive, Yadhu Gopalan, once led the architecture of Microsoft’s Windows CE and Windows Phone.
Where it stops
No list price and no standalone purchase: an Esper Deploy plan is also needed, from $2 a device a month with a 25-device minimum. Dual-boot stops at Android 13, your app must exist for Android, and Esper’s cloud runs in North America with no India region.
The numbers behind the platform
What your Esper Foundation rollout looks like
Audit hardware and apps
List every x86 or ARM model, its peripherals and OS build, and confirm each POS or kiosk app has an Android version.
Pick clean flip or dual-boot
Decide per site whether to wipe Windows or keep it beside Foundation, knowing dual-boot stops at Android 13.
Scope Firebolt and Deploy
Have Esper scope Foundation for your hardware list, choose the Deploy plan, and start the 30-day trial for the pilot.
Flip a pilot store
Convert a handful of units, enrol them in Deploy, and test printers, scanners and cash drawers under real trading.
Set the patch rhythm
Fix a monthly OTA window, stage OS builds to a canary group first, and roll the conversion out site by site.
The review scoreboard
Modelled on Gartner Peer Insights structure. *Counts and breakdowns are illustrative pending verified review collection.
Quick poll — what’s driving your evaluation?
Talk to an advisor“Our billing counters ran LTSB 2016. Firebolt moved them to Android on the same x86 boxes instead of a hardware refresh.”
“We kept Windows on the disk as a dual-boot for the first quarter, which made the store managers far less nervous.”
“Monthly patch builds arrive on a schedule we set, so a store never reboots in the middle of a lunch rush.”
“The scoping took time: every printer, scanner and cash drawer model had to be listed before Esper would quote.”
“Our check-in app had no Android build, so half the kiosks could not move. Check app readiness before anything else.”
“Running AOSP on our own ARM boards meant no Google certification work before we could ship the device.”
Where everyone sits — the grids
Analyst firms bury this view behind paywalls, and G2 retired its Grid. So here’s TechBag’s synthesis of the dedicated-device OS market — tap any vendor to see why it sits where it does.
TechBag Device OS Grid
Execution strength vs product vision — the classic market map, minus the paywall.
Quoted per hardware; needs a Deploy plan from $2 a device a month.
Hardware Reach × Support Horizon
The grid nobody publishes — how many kinds of existing hardware a route can run on vs how many years of OS patches it promises.
ARM or x86, bare metal, dual-boot or VM; up to 10 years of updates.
Positions are TechBag’s illustrative synthesis of public review-platform data and vendor documentation — not a reproduction of any analyst graphic. Verify before relying on it.
Esper Foundation vs the other ways off an ageing Windows kiosk
Against Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC, new Android hardware, 42Gears SureLock, Scalefusion UEM and emteria Android OS — on hardware, price, support life, apps, access control, support and India.
| Dimension | Esper Foundation | Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC | New Android hardware | 42Gears SureLock | Scalefusion UEM | emteria Android OS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Custom AOSP Android OS | Fixed-life Windows | Replace the devices | Kiosk lockdown app | UEM with kiosk depth | Android OS for boards |
| How it is deployed | Bare metal, dual, VM | OEM or volume upgrade | New units on site | App on the device | Cloud console + agent | Flashed per device |
| Hardware covered | ARM and x86 | PC-class hardware | Whatever you buy | Android and Windows | Six OS families | ARM boards, Intel NUC |
| Pricing model | Quoted per hardware | OEM or volume licence | Capital purchase | Standalone or bundled | Per device, by tier | Workspace plans |
| Published entry price | Not published | Not published | Varies by model | $3.99 inside SureMDM | $2 Essentials | Free to 3, then €80/mo |
| Included vs add-on | Needs Esper Deploy | OS plus built-in kiosk | Hardware + MDM | Lockdown, not an OS | Management, not an OS | OS, OTA, remote access |
| Scale and minimums | 25-device Deploy floor | Per-device licence | Per unit replaced | No published minimum | 10-device minimum | 1,000 on Large |
| Patching and support life | Up to 10 years | Support to October 2034 | Set by the OEM | Inherits the OS | Tied to the OS beneath | 3-year LTS |
| Apps and integrations | Android build needed | Keeps Windows apps | Android app required | Keeps current apps | Windows apps stay | Needs an Android app |
| Console access control | SSO and RBAC from Bridge | From your MDM | Your MDM decides | Password + console | Tiered admin roles | Not published |
| India data region | No India region | Runs on the device | Depends on the MDM | India region or on-prem | India-hosted | Not published |
| Vendor support | Standard to Ultimate | Distributor-led | OEM warranty + MDM | Bengaluru vendor | Pune vendor | Not captured |
| Lock-in and exit | Esper OS + Esper MDM | Fixed end dates | Old units written off | Easy to remove | Agent-based, portable | Your boards, its OS |
| Best fit | Ageing x86 POS, kiosks | Windows apps, PC kit | End-of-life hardware | Keep Windows, lock it | Mixed fleets, India data | ARM and NUC builders |
Which approach fits you?
Honest fit signals — because the fastest way to lose your trust is to pretend one product wins every scenario.
Choose Esper Foundation if…
- ✓Your x86 POS or kiosk hardware still runs Windows 10 IoT LTSB 2016 and your app already has an Android build
- ✓You want an Android OS you control, with monthly patches and up to 10 years of OS support pushed over the air
- ✓You are happy to run the fleet on Esper Deploy, which Foundation needs anyway
Compare alternatives if…
- ✓Your software exists only for Windows — Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 is supported until October 2034
- ✓Management data must stay in India — SureMDM and Scalefusion both offer Indian hosting
- ✓You build on Raspberry Pi or Rockchip boards and want a published price — emteria starts free for 3 devices
Do not expect…
- ✓A list price, or a Foundation licence without an Esper Deploy subscription
- ✓Dual-boot beyond Android 13, or a Windows app running on Foundation unchanged
- ✓An Indian data region or an analyst ranking for the product
TechBag has no custom Android OS guide yet, so Esper Foundation sits outside the category guides. Browse all products to compare it with the rest of the catalogue. →
What does keeping old Windows kiosks running cost you?
Drag the sliders (dedicated devices in the fleet; field-technician hour cost). Estimates model the staff time spent re-imaging, patching and visiting ageing Windows POS and kiosk units, at an assumed 1.5 hours per device a year, with 70% of it removed by a managed OS updated over the air. Both figures are assumptions. Illustrative.
Loaded cost = salary + overheads per productive hour. Illustrative only — your TechBag quote models your actual environment and modules.
Three ways to consume it
Quote only. Esper publishes no price for Foundation or Firebolt: both are “scoped and priced to your specific hardware and peripheral configuration”, and neither is sold without an Esper Deploy subscription. Deploy lists Genesis at $2, Bridge at $4 and Architect at $6 a device a month, with Enterprise custom, a 25-device minimum per contract and a 30-day trial; Esper does not publish the billing term. Prices are in USD only. TechBag audits your hardware and apps first, then quotes Foundation and Deploy together in INR with GST.
Esper Foundation
Best for ARM or x86 devices that need a patched Android OS
- Monthly security patches over the air
- Up to 10 years of OS support (Esper)
- Quoted per hardware; Deploy plan required
+ Platform add-ons
Best for a broader rollout
- Scoped to your estate
- Add-on modules as needed
- Phased, right-sized deployment
Firebolt conversion
Best for x86 Windows POS and kiosks moving to Android
- Clean install or dual-boot with Windows
- Dual-boot supports Android 13 and below
- Scoped engagement; needs Foundation and Deploy
Buy it for less — TechBag pricing beats list
Whatever the list prices above, TechBag negotiates a significantly better deal — with GST-compliant INR invoicing and local support. Ask us for your discounted quote.
Get an India-ready quote
Tell us your requirements and current tools — we’ll model it against what you spend today.
The 8 questions to ask every vendor
Take this into your next vendor call — including ours.
Does every POS, kiosk and check-in app have an Android build? Firebolt eligibility depends on it.
Is each model ARM or x86, and are all printers, scanners and drawers listed? Esper scopes the quote on them.
Clean install, dual-boot with Windows kept, or a VM? Dual-boot is limited to Android 13 and below.
Which Deploy plan fits: Genesis lacks remote control, API, RBAC and SSO; Pipelines need Architect at $6.
How many years of patches and OS updates does the quote commit to, against Esper’s up-to-10-year LTS?
Is North American hosting acceptable for device data, given Esper offers no India region today?
If a site fails the pilot, how do units return to Windows, and who carries out the re-image?
Is the 25-device Deploy minimum per contract covered? Ask for the Foundation scope and term itemised in INR with GST.
Questions buyers ask
Ready to evaluate Esper Foundation?
Check which of your POS and kiosk apps have an Android build first, or let a TechBag advisor audit the hardware, scope Firebolt with Esper and get the quote itemised in INR.
Stats, ratings, review counts and pricing are illustrative and sourced from public materials; verify before purchase.