F-Secure ties up with Airtel to secure PCs

Shivangi Yadav

Kuala Lumpur

November 22nd, 2007

In a first of its kind tie-up in the Indian security scenario, F-Secure has
announced a tie-up Airtel to provide security solutions for consumers at their
doorsteps. The Airtel PC Secure, which is powered by F-Secure, will provide data
security to the company's broadband subscribers across the country.

Speaking about the new tie-up and why the company chose to go through an ISP
instead of going the channel route Jari Heinonen, VP-APAC, F-Secure Corporation
said, "This is not something that is India specific. The strategy of tying
up with ISP was made eight years ago. Internationally we have similar kind of
alliances with most well-known service providers. In India also before tying up
with Airtel we have got existing alliances with Reliance Infocomm and VSNL.
While with Reliance we are targeting both the consumer and SMB segment, VSNL is
purely looking at targeting the SMB customers."

Elaborating further on the strategy he added, "If you compare us with
the rest of the players in the anti-virus solutions segment, we are a medium
sized company. So we decided that instead of taking the route that the others
were taking we would go the ISP way. It was a risk for us since at that time
buying security as a service was not a concept that was attractive for people.
Anyway, the decision has been fruitful for us and it has been easy for the
consumers also."

"We adopt different strategy for different vendors. In case of Airtel
they are offering it as a value added service for their consumers," he
said.

F-Secure's value added service will be integrated into the monthly Internet
subscription in a phased manner. In the first phase the Airtel PC Secure service
will be immediately offered to Airtel broadband home users at an annual
subscription charge. The service for business users will be available later.

Elucidating about the advantages for the consumer he said, "The service
is delivered at your doorstep, you do not have to step out and buy the new
edition. That apart the updates are delivered everyday to you, making sure your
computer is always secure. Also if you no longer want the service, the payment
for the same can be stopped and you can continue with your broadband
connection."

On the channel front the company has recently SV Electronics, who have 85
channel partners across the country, to strengthen its reach into the country.
"The aim of the tie-up is to focus on selling security through ISP's and
managed security service providers and increase our marketshare in the
country," Heinonen added.

The company has recently also launched their Internet Security 2008 edition.
"Our products give you complete protection and with the new package we have
a wellness theme. It provides a complete and easy-to-use protection against all
known Internet threats and includes anti-virus, personal firewall, anti-spyware
and F-Secure DeepGuard technology that constantly monitors the very heart of
your computer, ensuring that no malicious programs can take over your computer
even if you do not have all the latest updates. In addition, the product filters
unwanted spam and phishing attempts from your e-mail. It also has parental
control with which you can block access to websites with questionable
content."

(The author was hosted in KL by F-Secure)