FreeLists / access-uk / [access-uk] Microsoft Debuts Windows Live OneCare

["George Bell" <george@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Apologies for the cross posting, but I do feel this is worth
knowing about.

George.

This article is taken from the Beta News home page at
www.betanews.com.  -Steve.

Microsoft Debuts Windows Live OneCare
By Nate Mook,
BetaNews
May 31, 2006, 1:15 PM

After a year in beta testing, Microsoft on Wednesday took
the wraps off Windows Live OneCare, its all-in-one security
and PC care subscription service. That package includes
antivirus, anti-spyware and PC tuning and backup tools,
along with free support for $49.95 USD per year.

In an interview Tuesday, OneCare Business Strategy Manager
Sam McManus told BetaNews that the service is targeted at
the average computer user, and will let them "focus on
enjoying their online experience."

"The reason we built [Windows Live OneCare] is the
frustration we have heard from users," McManus said. "It's
too complicated." According to Microsoft, very few customers
ever perform backups, most have out of date security
software, and over 70 percent do not use a firewall.

But such an explanation may provide little solace for
Microsoft partners such as McAfee and Symantec, which are
facing new competition in a market the Redmond company
previously avoided. The $49.95 yearly fee enables customers
to install the software on up to three computers.

Customers who do not wish to renew their subscription for
$49.95 can continue to use the Windows Live OneCare
software, but with limited functionality. For example,
backups can continue to be accessed, but not created.

"Microsoft is aggressively pricing OneCare, clearly with the
intent of quickly grabbing a bunch of new customers.
Relentless consumer PC security problems give Microsoft good
reason to act--for the preservation of its brand and
protection of its customer,"
Jupiter Research senior analyst Joe Wilcox told BetaNews.

"But I question the method, of competing with longstanding
and loyal partners like McAfee and Symantec, as the best
approach. Increased Microsoft competition is a growing
problem for the company's development partners."

Still, McManus said that Microsoft felt there was a lot of
room for multiple players.
"The response industry-wide is that this has been the right
direction to go," she added.

Although OneCare will serve as a central management tool for
existing applications such as Microsoft Update and Windows
Defender, which provides the anti-spyware functionality, it
does include some new features. Microsoft has implemented
antivirus technology it acquired from RAV, along with a more
advanced firewall than the one that ships with Windows.

McManus explained that Windows Live OneCare tackles a "new
category" 
in the security
space, an all-in-one utility that makes it easy for novices
to stay safe amid a surge in online threats.

McAfee is preparing a similar service
  code-named "Falcon," while Symantec has been working on a
singular solution dubbed "Genesis."

"I wouldn't call OneCare a new category of product or
category defining product.
Many security software vendors offer PC protection suites,"
noted Jupiter's Wilcox.
"While compelling, Microsoft's stoplight motif isn't exactly
original."

AOL is also preparing its own comprehensive security and
computer improvement suite tentatively called "Total Care."
The service will be offered to both members and non-members
for a fee, and is expected to go beta in the coming weeks,
sources tell BetaNews.

Windows Live OneCare will be offered in retail locations and
is available for purchase and direct download online.

The service currently works with Windows XP Service Pack 2.
Microsoft plans to bring OneCare to international markets in
the coming months.

A beta version of OneCare for Windows Vista will be ready by
the end of the year, McManus said.


Regards Steve
Email:  srp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Skype:  steve1963
MSN Messenger:  internetuser383@xxxxxxxxxxx 


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