Global leader in the antivirus technology and maker of the famous Norton Antivirus, Symantec Corporation of the US is looking at acquisitions in India.
Dana E Siebert, executive vice-president, Symantech, said, "We feel that acquisitions here is better method of growing rather than outsourcing local business. We are typically looking at small companies in niche markets in the security business."
The company unlike other major software companies who have set shop in the country have not even applied for a development centre approval.
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Incidentally, the company is expecting about $200 to $240 million from the Asian region in the coming year. A market research carried out by the company along with Stanford University on Indian markets revealed that corporates would be the major source of income with almost 60-70 per cent of the income coming from corporate and government with about 30 per cent coming from individuals and OEMs.
Being in the virus detection and elimination business the company does not adopt an aggressive stance towards going all out against new viruses like some of its competitors Network Associates and Trend said Siebert. But they have tied up with various associations to share information on viruses and can come up with solutions on variants of existing viruses within hours and for new viruses within a few days.
According to Siebert, Symantec's strategy in India is in line with its recent worldwide strategy of focusing on developing software for the content security market.
"This strategy builds on Symantec's initial business of developing anti-virus software and remote connectivity solutions," Siebert said.
Quoting figures of International Data Corporation, he said the content security market worldwide will be over US$4 billion by 2003.
According to Joy Ghosh, country manager, India, the company would launch in India 2 content security software--I-Gear and Mail-Gear. This software came along with the acquisition of US-based firm UR Lab for US$ 42 million last summer by Symantec.
I-Gear would boost the corporate Internet productivity with the most comprehensive multi-platform policy based Internet access software.
Mail-Gear, on the other hand, would protect corporate information with the most comprehensive multi-platform policy based e-mail filtering software. That is, it will save corporates from receiving junk or adulterated mail.