Microsoft has announced its intention to acquire GeCad Software, a Romanian antivirus technology developer, in order to improve the security in its Windows platform.
The deal, the financial terms of which were not disclosed, would add a team of antivirus experts to Microsoft's stable of developers and give the company the ability to offer antivirus systems across all its products, a representative said. Security experts from the 100-employee company will also work to make the Windows operating system work better with products from third-party antivirus vendors, Microsoft said.
The move is likely to change the competitive landscape for antivirus vendors such as Network Associates and Symantec, and could even raise the specter of Netscape Communications--the Internet browser leader that was sidelined when Microsoft bundled its own browser into Windows.
News source: News.com
The deal, the financial terms of which were not disclosed, would add a team of antivirus experts to Microsoft's stable of developers and give the company the ability to offer antivirus systems across all its products, a representative said. Security experts from the 100-employee company will also work to make the Windows operating system work better with products from third-party antivirus vendors, Microsoft said.
The move is likely to change the competitive landscape for antivirus vendors such as Network Associates and Symantec, and could even raise the specter of Netscape Communications--the Internet browser leader that was sidelined when Microsoft bundled its own browser into Windows.
News source: News.com
Microsoft said that, although it was planning to acquire GeCad 's intellectual property, it would not continue developing the company's products. Microsoft did not say how many of GeCad's employees it intended to retain. The deal must still get regulatory approval.
The GeCad agreement arose out of Microsoft's "Trustworthy Computing" initiative, which is aimed, among other things, at improving the track record of Windows' security.
This is *not* a good idea. Although Microsoft has the resources to make whatever software they want and make it work well, I don't think they should enter the anti-virus business. They should leave that to companies like Symantec and McAfee who are devoted specifically to anti-virus software.
I just get this feeling like they're going to include a free version of something in the next version of Windows like they did with the "firewall" in XP thats so minimal......
...and minimal anti-virus is *not* what people need.
I'm not saying they *will* do it wrong, but it's likely....
Works both ways, I think.
Let them complain/cry all they want, and see where it'll get them = Nowhere.
I think it would be far better that they gave you a voucher or something and allowed the end user to choose which AV software they use - this would also allow AV companies to continue to exist and grow.
Perhaps they can give AV companies rebates when a user purchases their product with a valid MS licence.
Thats just one small example.
Now if they added a spyware catcher and eliminator, I'd be impressed.
EDIT: Ummm, I mean, one that actually WORKS!
New country motto: "Romania...more than just Vampires and poverty. Microsoft now acquires our companies, too!!"
-Berz
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