Trend Micro Braces for Microsoft' s Entry Into Antivirus Software Turf

Taipei, Feb. 14, 2006 (CENS)--Although Microsoft Corp. announced it would begin offering on-line antivirus service in June this year, Trend Micro pointed out that Microsoft' s entry into the field would unlikely take heavy toll on its business considering different market focuses of the two companies.

The world' s No. 1 software developer said it would begin to provide its OneCare antivirus service in June this year at subscription charge of US$49.95 a year. However, the company' s Taiwan branch recently said it has yet to decide when to introduce the service on the island.

The California-headquartered Trend Micro, whose founder Steve Chang is a Taiwanese, pointed out that it was not surprised by Microsoft' s decision. But the company' s Taiwan branch pointed out that Microsoft would unlikely erode Trend Micro' s world business since Microsoft has focused on end-user markets while Trend has pinpointed at enterprise markets.

Microsoft began unfolding its antivirus plan last year after two years of deployments in the market, which is estimated at US$10 billion worldwide. Industry watchers pointed out that behind Microsoft' s accession to the market is the software giant' s determination to dismiss criticisms that its operating systems (Oss) are vulnerable to hacker and virus attacks.

Microsoft has bagged up to 90% of world market for personal-computer OS, making it a prominent target to hackers. To reinforce its Oss, Microsoft has launched acquisitions of information-security companies including Sybari Software to furnish itself with antivirus and anti-hacker technologies.

Some industry watchers estimated the acquisition of Sybari to sour partnership between Microsoft and Trend. Trend offers Microsoft Hotmail service free virus-scan software. But, Trend Micro Taiwan stressed that their cooperation was not affected by Microsoft' s breaking in the arena. The Taiwan branch' s officials pointed out that before Microsoft' s entry into the field their company already had many rivals, suggesting their company could cope with the new challenger.