Microsoft is preparing to roll out its Windows Live OneCare security
product, it is offering some people the $49.95-a-year service for free
On Tuesday, Microsoft sent e-mail invitations to a select number of
people who have been testing OneCare, asking them to join a "perpetual
beta." These people get to use the service at no cost and will have
early access to new features, said Brooke Richardson, a lead product
manager at Microsoft.
The testers will receive beta software, which could have glitches,
Richardson said. However, Microsoft doesn"t plan to load code onto PCs
that will really break the system, she said. Testers will receive
updates to the software a few days before Microsoft plans to release it
to the general public, according to Microsoft"s beta test Web site,
accessible only to testers.
Windows OneCare Live is scheduled to debut in June.
It marks Microsoft"s entry into the consumer antivirus market, a space
previously dominated by specialists such as Symantec, McAfee and Trend
Micro.