Symantec Takes Norton Antivirus to the Smartphone
What's the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word Symantec? If you answered Norton Antivirus you would be right on and the company has just unveiled a new family of products aimed at protecting smartphones, highlighting the growing importance of securing data on an ever-increasing number of mobile devices worldwide.
Symantec, the world's largest technology security company by revenue, is expanding beyond its core antivirus software and jostling with other security vendors for a stake in the growing smartphone market.
Last month, the company bought GuardianEdge, a software company that specializes in mobile security, for $70 million. Meanwhile, rival McAfee purchased Trust Digital, another mobile protection firm, for an undisclosed sum.
The acquisitions underscore the ongoing challenge of protecting the surging number of mobile devices. In March, research firm IDC predicted that global mobile-security licenses will more than double to $2.7 billion by 2014, from $1.3 billion in 2009.
In addition to smartphone security software, Symantec is launching data storage applications for Android phones and iPhone and iPad devices. The products are slated for released next month.