Yahoo to distribute Symantec security product

25-07-2006

by Ciara O'Brien

Yahoo and Symantec have teamed up to offer internet users a joint security service.

As part of the deal, millions of Yahoo customers will be offered Symantec's Norton Internet Security product through the Yahoo network, with a 30 day free trial and a discounted price for the full year's subscription of USD49.99. The agreement also offers Yahoo users access to antivirus software and a firewall through Yahoo's online Protection Product which is aimed at broadband users.

The Yahoo network includes Yahoo Mail, Yahoo Search, various online services, and the Yahoo Toolbar.

Symantec will provide Norton Spyware for the Yahoo Toolbar, and users will be offered a special co-branded toolbar option that will include links to other security options.

The new partnership develops an existing agreement Symantec already has with Yahoo: the company provide antivirus scanning tools for Yahoo's email service. The move also puts Yahoo (and to a lesser extent Symantec) in competition with rivals such as Microsoft and Google.

This is not the first major security partnership that Symantec has struck -- it already distributes its security software through Google. The Norton Antivirus product is available through the Google Pack, which also includes RealPlayer, Ad-aware and Trillian software. Symantec is also currently listed one of the preferred software suppliers google recommends for its optimum PC set up.

It seems strategic alliances are the wave of the future. Another high profile partnership includes Google's deal with Dell, which sees the internet giant's search bar pre-installed on Dell machines and a co-branded homepage on their web browsers.

Yahoo has recently concluded a deal with eBay, providing graphical ads on the online auction service and offering sponsored searches for merchandise on some of eBay's product search-results pages in the US. Yahoo has also made PayPal the default payment system on all Yahoo channels.

Not to be left out, Microsoft has teamed up with MTV for digital entertainment through Windows Media Player, and allied itself with SAP and Mendocino to create new user interfaces. There have also been rumours online that Microsoft has been eyeing eBay as a potential acquisition, but there has been no official confirmation from either party as yet.

The latest deal with Yahoo will give Symantec direct access to millions of Yahoo customers and in turn give Yahoo an edge in the increasingly lucrative security market.