Security vendor Symantec has announced the acquisition of software tools company PC Tools for undisclosed financial terms.
PC Tools makes a large range of useful applications for your PC including Spyware Doctoer, Registry Mechanic, Internet Security, Antivirus Free Edition, Firewall Plus, Desktop Maestro, ThreatFire, File Recover, Spam Monitor, Privacy Guardian and Disk Suite.
The company will remain a separate unit from Symantec and Simon Clausen, CEO of PC Tools will continue to sit at the helm developing their products. Symantec intends to take their existing portfolio of software and release a range of new utility and security products.
Speaking of the acquisition, Janice Chaffin, Symantec Group President of consumer products said:
We are excited to welcome PC Tools into the Symantec consumer family and believe the combination of our two companies will provide additional value and choice for consumers worldwide to better enable and protect their digital life … By adding PC Tools, we build on the market-leading success of Symantec’s consumer offerings and firmly position ourselves for continued incremental growth in a rapidly expanding market.
Read more at the Symantec press release
Matthew’s Opinion
PC Tools have range of products that clash with Symantec, such as the firewall, spam and anti-virus applications. This may not be a bad thing, however, as it just gives the company another label to trade under. Applications like Antivirus Free Edition may also act as a good stepping stone to buying a paid-for Symantec security solution – an approach AVG uses very well.
There are some tools Symantec can make use of and enter new markets. Expanding upon Desktop Maestro’s features would be a good starting point for a “clean up your PC” package. Symantec also mention catering to emerging markets, so they may have plans to turn PC Tools into their budget label.
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