Larson is a thief!
Network Associates Ups Ante
(03/06/98; 5:42 p.m. EST)
By Paula Rooney, Computer Retail Week
Network Associates is taking a bold step to steal customers from the competition.
The Santa Clara, Calif., company, which owns the leading utilities vendor formerly known as McAfee Associates, is giving away its popular VirusScan antivirus software title free to owners of competing packages from companies such as Symantec, Dr Solomon, and Computer Associates International.
Any customer who buys VirusScan at retail stores between March 1 and May 15 will receive a rebate for up to 100 percent of their VirusScan purchase price, company officials said.
Analysts said the offer would be more significant if it was permanent. "It's a one-time deal," said Chris LeTocq, a software analyst with Dataquest, in San Jose, Calif. "It's to get the base out of competitors."
The program applies to all operating systems and gives customers a free copy of VirusScan, including all upgrades and updates, for a full year, company officials said. To take advantage of the offer, customers are required to send in their VirusScan receipt, UPC code, and on-box coupon along with their existing anti-virus software product. Network Associates will refund up to $50 per box.
According to Reston, Va.-based PC Data, VirusScan was the second best-selling Windows title at retail in 1997, behind only Windows 95. The average selling price for the title was $44. Symantec's Norton AntiVirus ranked third of the best-selling Windows business titles in 1997, with an average selling price of $67. |
