Microsoft has announced the pricing details for Windows OneCare, the company’s forthcoming security software featuring functionality such as spyware and virus protection. Microsoft also announced the release date to be this June. Windows OneCare will cost $49.99 annually and will include licenses for 3 computers running Windows XP Service Pack 2.


From a News.com article:

Buyers can install OneCare on up to three PCs that run Windows XP with Service Pack 2. This is a discount over rival products from Symantec and McAfee, which charge $119.99 and $139.99, respectively, before rebates, for three-user editions of their security suites. The Symantec and McAfee products are often heavily rebated.

Microsoft will also be providing support that is much better than what is offered today by companies like Symantec:

OneCare also includes support at no additional charge via e-mail, online chat or phone, Microsoft said. This compares to oft-criticized, mostly paid-support options from Symantec and McAfee.

The article also says that OneCare will be subscription-based. Being a rather-unhappy Symantec user, I know all too well that there are two components of security protection that Symantec and many other security companies sell: the software and the subscription.

Normally, upgrading your security software (for example, upgrading from Norton AntiVirus 2004 to Norton AntiVirus 2006) provides you with new features, while buying a new subscription gives you updated virus definitions for a set period of time. Typically however, security software includes a “free” subscription period. OneCare will be different because it will offer both virus definition and feature updates in one subscription.

Hmm… Three computers? Simplified subscription? A whole security package rather than just anti-virus? For only $50? This is sounding much better than what I’m used to hearing from Symantec offers. However, we’ll almost certainly soon begin to see some equally good offerings by currently-dominant security software manufacturers. Symantec is already starting to show signs of “getting ready” with hints about new product, codenamed “Genesis.”