Software-Defined Radio is an example of how software-driven virtualization to replace hardware-oriented functionality can enhance system performance.
The migration of hardware functionality into software solutions is occurring across the industry, on many fronts. This migration has been going on for quite some time, but has been usually confined to vertical application spaces and specialty products and solutions. However, the recent advances in both software and the hardware to run it on has given software-driven functionality a big boost in cost-effectiveness and capability.