Norton Life Cycle the Product

Norton Life Cycle

The Product Life Cycle: Norton Antivirus

Development:

In the late 1980s, the fast-paced advance in the use of personal computers in the home and business contexts would also lead to an advance in the use of malicious and/or invasive programs called viruses. Designed in order to breach security, steal information or simply disrupt computer functionality, viruses have come to represent a serious threat to the privacy of computer use and to the economic prosperity generated thereby. This would promote the recognition on the part of software company Symantec of the need for a viable software solution to said threat. Thus, in 1990, Symantec would purchase Peter Norton, the company responsible for developing and refining Norton Antivirus. A smaller software company, its strength would be found in the research and development of what is largely considered today to be the technological template for finding, archiving and removing viruses found on systems where it has been installed. (Wikipedia, 1)

Introduction:

The merger between the two companies denoted above would initiate the introduction of Norton Antivirus to an increasingly broader audience. Indeed, research emerging from this merger denotes that the sale of Peter Norton would be based on the particular suitability of Symantec to the demands related to introducing the product. Namely, the article by Fisher (1990) indicates that "one big attraction of the deal was Symantec's large corporate sales force, Mr. Norton said. Peter Norton was creating a direct sales team and will now be able to benefit from Symantec's team." (Fisher, 1)

Growth:

This denotes that Symantec would also be possessed in the resources to sustain the product's growth over the course of the following decade. Pairing itself with many Windows and Macintosh systems, Norton would become a preinstalled feature or an elected delivery feature in new computers. The strategy would prove successful in assisting the rapid proliferation of the Norton Antivirus packages. Accordingly, Wikipedia (2010) reports that "Norton AntiVirus and Norton Internet Security, a related product, held a 61% U.S. retail market share for security suites as of the first half of 2007." (Wikipedia, 1) In addition to casting a dominant shadow over its sector of the technology industry, this would make Symantec a leading developer of antivirus technologies.

Maturity:

The maturation of Norton Antivirus is marked both by the annual or multi-annual release of newer or more refined versions of its software. A constant research and development phase is required so that Norton can remain abreast of advances amongst hackers and developers of malware, spyware and viruses. This is demonstrated by continual re-release of the Norton packages. According to available research, "Existing users of the 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 versions can upgrade to the latest 2010 version without buying a new subscription. Upgrading will preserve the number of days left on a user's subscription." (Wikipedia, 1)