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As previously reported, Windows OneCare Live's June debut marks Microsoft's long-anticipated entry into the consumer antivirus market. That space has long been the domain of specialized vendors, led by Symantec and McAfee. Microsoft announced its intent to offer antivirus products in June 2003 when it bought Romanian antivirus software developer GeCad Software.
OneCare combines antivirus, anti-spyware and firewall software with backup features and several tune-up tools for Windows PCs. The product will be sold online and in stores, Microsoft said.
The software maker is following common routes to get its software into consumers' hands. It will offer a free 90-day test period and is working on deals with PC makers to ship OneCare on new computers, said Dennis Bonsall, director of Windows OneCare Live at Microsoft.
Buyers can install OneCare on up to three PCs that run Windows XP with Service Pack 2. This is a discount over rival products from Symantec and McAfee, which charge $119.99 and $139.99, respectively, before rebates, for three-user editions of their security suites. The Symantec and McAfee products are often heavily rebated.
"Up to three licenses is a real good deal," said Andrew Jaquith, an analyst with The Yankee Group in Boston. "I think it is very consumer-friendly and a good deal for families and SOHO (small office, home office) type businesses."
OneCare also includes support at no additional charge via e-mail, online chat or phone, Microsoft said. This compares to oft-criticized, mostly paid-support options from Symantec and McAfee.
Microsoft announced its plans for OneCare in May 2005. Invited testers have been trying it out since last July and a public test version was released late last year. About 170,000 people are testing OneCare. As a thank-you, testers can get a discounted rate of $19.95 per year if they sign up in April, Bonsall said.
Microsoft will sell OneCare on a subscription basis--a change from the traditional way security software has been sold. As long as a subscription is active, users will get signature and feature updates to guard against the latest attacks. Traditionally, users paid annually for signature updates, while a product upgrade required an additional purchase.
Symantec and McAfee sell their boxed security suite products for $69.99, before any rebates, and then charge an annual fee for signature updates. However, both security companies have also been moving to a subscription model.
In addition to adding subscription options, established security software sellers have prepared for Microsoft's market entry by adding anti-spyware to their security suites. Symantec later this year also plans to introduce a new product, code-named Genesis, that will be sold on a subscription-only basis and has many of the same features as OneCare.
"If Microsoft had not combined the two, you would still see the mainstream antivirus vendors all trying to premium-price all these things separately," Jaquith said.
Initially, OneCare will only be available in English on the U.S. market. Microsoft plans to have test versions out in other languages within the next year, a representative said.
The global antivirus market is growing; it reached $3.7 billion in revenue in 2004, up 36 percent from 2003, IDC said in December. The market research outfit forecasts the antivirus market will grow to $7.3 billion in 2009.
With OneCare, Microsoft is targeting consumers, especially those who do not run security or have let their current product expire. The company says it believes 70 percent of consumers fall into that category. In a recent research note, The Yankee Group estimated the niche as a market worth potentially $15 billion.
The company plans to include Windows Defender, an anti-spyware program, within Windows Vista, the update to the operating system scheduled to arrive before the 2006 holiday sales season. However, there are no plans to bundle antivirus software in Vista.
Microsoft is also eyeing the enterprise security market. It is working on a new Microsoft Client Protection product to defend business desktops, laptops and file servers against malicious attacks.
See more CNET content tagged:
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I'll continue using Windows because that is what I'm used to....
I'll also continue using my router's firewall with 4 FREE programs S&D/AdAware/Anwil Antivirus and Zone Alarm.
the problems (sloppy coding) and then charges you to protect
yourself from the boogyman!
Hilarious!!!!
Hopefully the released version will be more streamlined
Pricing sure seems good
Doug
Watch them turn it into another, "you'll get the update when we feel like giving it to you."
Scary.
Where is the value proposition in me coughing up $50 here?
Girl: OK.
Guy: Would you sleep with me for five bucks?
Girl: What kind of person do you think I am?
Guy: We've already established that. Now we're haggling over
price.
You've already bought the weak OS. Why wouldn't they think
they can stick you again?
So rant on, anti-Microsoft---Get your kicks out of slamming Microsoft an a daily basis. Get your kicks out of ranting against Microsoft every time it attempts to do something positive for its products. If this were a Mac or Linux article, the first person that spoke against them would be flamed or trolled.
By the way, I don't plan to purchase OneCare, and I believe it's wrong that Microsoft is charging money for it. But I do admire Microsoft's intention to become more involved with security, although it's a bit late---they should have started over ten years ago.
that Microsoft is charging money for it.
On the other hand, I find Microsoft's rather belated intention to
become more involved with security to be a insult to the Windows
users, especially the propective Vista customers.
Yes, Microsoft should have started over ten years ago.
Like Michael said. Its all beta (vista and onecare). I personally choose not to use them and I don't believe they are worth the money. Its your choice.
wagon. While I freely admit I have no love for Microsoft and its
products, it makes me unconfortable that I am buying a product
from the company who's OS has had several serious security issues.
Windows 1.0 was no good, so they tried a different version, so bad it was never released. Good for them, so far.
Windows 3.0 had many flaws, but was released anyway. We had to pay extra then, for 3.1.
Windows 95 was a newer system with many advantages over 3.1.
Then came 98 with it's two revisions, mostly fixing up 95. It was very unstable though.
Around that time they built a business version that was much more stable, but didn't fix the stability of the home version until XP Home. You had to pay extra to get the stability they already had worked out. Constantly rebooting was considered alright for the average user.
Now, they not only knowingly put out a defective product before proper testing, full of many security holes, but insist on leaving the holes in. From their current admissions, they can fix it up but want more money from us for that service.
I imagine the new version coming up will have those same holes so Microsoft can continue to charge for fixing them.
It doesn't make any sense to this poor rodent, none at all.
Already, before it's even being sold, holes in the security program have been found. Jeeze!!
When are you human creatures going to learn? Switch to Linux or Mac. Don't give them fools more of your money. If you want to throw your money down a hole, throw it down a rathole so us guys can buy our pizza with it.
Oscar Rat
- Viruses and Linux
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by Oscar Rat
February 12, 2006 8:24 AM PST
- One good reason we linux users don't have malware is that, unlike Windows, we get our programs and upgrades from secure sites and only after extensive testing. They are only added to the distributions after, first, being upgraded by picked personnel, then going through an extensive ladder of testing before being officially added to the stable versions. I use Debian, and am currently mad because it's taking so long for OpenOffice, a good office suite to go through the testing phrase. But, one I get it, it will probably be at least as good as Microsoft Office, and be free for the download. And I'll be able to put a copy on all of my computers for the same price, free.
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(56 Comments)Oscar Rat
Oscar Rat