In yesterday's blog, I talked about Bill Gates surprise announcement regarding a new version of Internet Explorer. But, Mr. Gates also made another announcement:
The consumer version of Microsoft's anti-spyware software will be continue to be free for genuine Windows users. The beta version, which we reviewed here last month, has been free, but it was unclear whether Microsoft would charge for future versions. Said Gates:
"We've looked hard at the nature of this problem, and made a decision that this anti-spyware capability will become something that's available at no additional charge for Windows users—both the blocking capability, and the scanning and removal capabilities. Those are features we think should be available to protect every system."
Gytis Barzdukas, director of product management in Microsoft's security business technology unit, said the free anti-spyware tools would only be available for a "personal edition" and made it clear that an enterprise version with management capabilities will carry a price tag.
"We're planning a refresh [of the anti-spyware beta] within the next few months. In the meantime, we're talking to enterprise customers, asking them about the management capabilities they need. Once we figure all that out, we will release a managed version."
Note: I am leaving shortly for Corvallis, OR for my first art show of the year. I may not be able to write my blog for a few days unless I can find a wireless connection. So, if you don't hear from me for a couple of days, now you will know why.
No comments:
Post a Comment