McAfee.com Teams with Polarity to Extend Security Services Offering To Offline Consumers
Both Companies to Market Services Through Bundling and Alternative Distribution Programs With Major Retailers
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Feb. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — McAfee.com (Nasdaq: MCAF), a leading provider of Web security services, today announced an agreement with Polarity Inc., a specialized promotion and distribution company, to develop bundling, promotions, and alternative software distribution programs for consumers. Programs will be developed to reach consumers through traditional PC industry distribution channels as well as through alternative distribution channels such as grocery, cellular, and travel. This business relationship is a continuation of the company’s initiative to further extend McAfee.com services to the over 70 million PC users in the US.
Polarity will distribute McAfee.com products for use in promotions, affinity offers and other alternative distribution programs. For example, customers who purchase new PCs or related peripherals at one of many participating major retailers would, at the time of purchase, have the option to select McAfee.com VirusScan Online either as an individual service or as part of a security bundle at a discounted price. The service may be given to the user on a CD-ROM at the time of purchase or users may be given a voucher to download the service via the Internet. Polarity also plans to target traditionally non-technical distribution channels such as grocery, travel and cellular with similar programs. These new channels are expected to expand the reach of McAfee.com’s marketing efforts and readily increase the company’s customer base.
“As we continue to expand our channels to reach out to the less traditional computer user, we look for partners that have a flawless track record in marketing consumer software,” said Atri Chatterjee, vice-president, worldwide marketing, McAfee.com. “Polarity’s unique relationships with alternative channels offer us an excellent opportunity to market to the millions of potential customers who may not be familiar with our services.” “As more people use the Internet in their everyday lives, they are realizing the importance of security,” said Steve Patti, president, Polarity, Inc. “Working with McAfee.com we help less-technical users access products they normally wouldn’t consider purchasing for their PCs.” Polarity’s existing customer base provides McAfee.com access to potentially millions of additional consumers. The two companies expect initial programs to be launched in the second quarter of this year.
About Polarity, Inc.
Polarity Inc. is a leading provider of licensed entertainment and educational products for resale and promotional use. Its premiums, promotions, and distributor resale programs attract consumers by featuring popular CD-ROM software, movies, music, books, console games, and online subscriptions. Founded in 1996, Polarity services a wide variety of companies and their agencies around the world. More information can be found at www.polarityinc.com
About McAfee.com
McAfee.com Corporation is a world-leading provider of managed Web security, optimization and maintenance services. Using a patented system and process of delivering software through an Internet browser, McAfee.com has redefined how software is developed, delivered and experienced by PC users at home and at work, virtually eliminating the need to install, configure and manage the technology on a local PC or network. McAfee.com hosts software application services on its vast technology infrastructure and provides these services to users online through its Web site www.mcafee.com. McAfee.com has signed up more than 1.3 million paid active subscribers, making it one of the largest paid subscription sites on the Internet. The company estimates that 30% of its subscriber base is international.
For more information, contact McAfee.com at 408-992-8100 or visit http://www.mcafee.com.
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