Today Microsoft launched the beta version of its free antivirus/anti-malware product. Originally said to be named “Morro” after a beach in Sao Paulo, Brazil, it’s now called Microsoft Security Essentials. MSE is meant to replace the subscription-based Windows Live OneCare consumer security suite, and is also geared toward consumers. Pcmag.com has a review of the SME beta version here. ZDNet.com reports that the downloads will be capped at 75,000. May the Force be with you.
Also, Steve Ballmer stated last week how much he’s willing to pour into Bing over the next five years:
“Our shareholders, I told them we were willing to spend 5 to 10 percent of operating income for up to five years in this business, and we feel like we can get an economic return,” Ballmer told a business luncheon in Chicago, without elaborating on the timeframe.
“We invested in Xbox for years and now it generates nice economic returns for us,” he said, referring to the company’s popular gaming console.”
Fair enough, but a well-established video game console isn’t the same thing as a relatively undeveloped Internet search engine. Citing industry data, Reuters also said that Bing had nabbed “12.1 percent of U.S. Internet searches for the June 8-12 work week, up from 11.3 percent from June 1-5 but trailing Google’s 65 percent of U.S. searches in May.”
Via reuters.com and pcmag.com.
This is going to fail as badly as the xBox.
(waiting for people to be outraged at what I wrote, and not read it and understand the implications)
“A well-established video game console isn’t the same thing as a relatively undeveloped Internet search engine.”
Wrong parallel. In gaming, Microsoft saw a market with obvious dominant leaders, butted its way in awkwardly, used money and marketing in place of substantial content at the outset, and eventually came out as a profitable second-place force. Windows Live Search is the original Xbox; that’s not to say Bing will be the Xbox 360, but there’s value in creating a popular alternative, and Internet users have proven to not give a crap about site loyalty.
Then again, Google Wave is going to be adopted en masse and change the way we use the Internet, I believe. That MS isn’t focusing on that sort of one-stop Internet communication platform is more troubling.
Windows Live OneCare was a nightmare. Doubt that Security Essentials will be any better.
For years MS has used ETrust for their intranet security – tells you how much they value their own product. From what I gather, there’s a collective groan that the company is being forced to use its new security suite internally.
The main vulnerability has always been the Office suite – once MSFT loses market dominance in that area, no matter what, their cash cow is doomed.
Google knows this.