Symantec CEO: Microsoft security ware pricing 'monopolistic'

Symantec Chairman and CEO John Thompson blamed Microsoft on Tuesday for the current pricing competition his company faces in the consumer security market, suggesting Microsoft's pricing scheme for its first entry into the space is "monopolistic." Speaking at the offices of the Nasdaq stock exchange in New York, Thompson said Microsoft's decision last year to offer Windows Live OneCare, a service that combines firewall, antiviru,s and backup capabilities, for $49.95 per year for three PCs "clearly recast prior expectations for consumer security technology." "I don't want to say it was monopolistic, but it looked that way to some of us," Thompson said. Symantec released Norton 360, its competitor to Windows Live OneCare, last March, but the product -- at $79.99 for three PCs -- costs more than Windows Live OneCare but has the benefit of more features and Symantec's experience in security going for it. Using competitive pricing to try to get a leg up in a market where a company is weak is a common practice, and Symantec is no stranger to such pricing storms, Thompson said. "We have seen a continued focus on price competition in some markets and some channels," he said.To say Microsoft has a long way to go before it can compete with the breadth of products Symantec has in the consumer and enterprise spaces is an understatement. Microsoft executives have acknowledged that the company took its time in realizing the importance of security, but they are now determined to give Symantec and McAfee a run for their money with offerings like OneCare and the Forefront security line. Still, there is wide agreement that any serious heat from Microsoft in security is several years off, if not more. Continue At Source


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