Microsoft To Phase-out Live OneCare

Two years after a very hyped launching of Windows Live OneCare, Microsoft just announced today that the product will be phased out next year and a free security solution (codenamed "Morro") will be released to replace it. The yet-to-be-announced product will offer realtime anti-malware protection solution. OneCare, on the other hand, offers this capability on top of backup and management features. This is to be expected given the fact that Morro, according to Microsoft, is designed to use minimal computing resources to make it amenable to low-bandwidth scenarios and less powerful PCs hence the smaller footprint.

Microsoft also announced that sales of the Windows Live OneCare subscription service as well as Windows Live OneCare for Server on SBS 2008 will end on June 30, 2009. OneCare users will have the option to move to Morro (it will be available everywhere OneCare currently is). The fact that Morro is FOC may also entice end-user adoption. However, I doubt it is capable of dislodging the industry leaders off their roosts in the enterprise security field.

Microsoft's entry to the consumer/enterprise security market way back in 2006 was met with mixed reactions. And with this setback, whatever is left of Microsoft's foothold on this arena has taken a major beating.