Skype branches out: offers Symantec PC security products

Stuart Corner
Wednesday, 07 February 2007 23:36

Your IT - Home IT

Skype is moving to exploit the sales potential of its huge user base, announcing a deal with PC security software company Symantec to offer Symantec products to its business and SOHO users.

As part of the agreement, Skype will offer a special promotion to business users who click through Skype to a co-branded PC security information website and download Norton Internet Security and other Symantec Norton branded products. Also, Symantec's Norton branded products will be available in Skype's online store at a discount to retail prices.

Symantec's Norton Internet Security and Norton AntiVirus 2007 products, which are suitable for both home users and small offices, have been Skype Certified. "This confirms that Symantec's Norton line of security products meet Skype's strict standards for security, quality and usability," Skype says.

Skype claims that its software "was built from the ground up with security in mind, to ensure that Skype calls and chats remain safe and secure...Skype's software developers and engineers work vigilantly to make security an integral part of the product's development."

Last month Skype enhanced its offering to businesses claiming that "business users have always been part of the Skype family and make up more than 30 percent of Skype's global community of users." It announced new features in Skype for Business that "make it easier for businesses of all sizes to install and manage Skype."

The company said that "Skype can now be easily installed on multiple computers using the Windows Installer package (commonly known as MSI). This gives system administrators greater control over how to deploy Skype across their corporate networks."