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OneCare 1.5 Goes to Manufacturing
Microsoft quietly announced this week that it has released version 1.5 of its Windows Live OneCare security and antivirus offering to manufacturing.
That means that the upgrade is on track to be ready just in time to be announced with the consumer release of Windows Vista and Office 2007 at the end of the month.
Not surprisingly, chief among the new features and capabilities being added with 1.5 is compatibility with -- you guessed it -- Windows Vista.
Windows Live OneCare provides a set of online services aimed at protecting users from net threats as well as at helping keep PC hard drives backed up and systems updated. It provides real-time and on-demand antivirus, antiphishing, and antispyware scanning along with a two-way managed firewall.
Version 1.5 will also deliver several international versions, including ones localized for Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK. Further, the update will add support for backing up to network drives as well as backing up to other devices, including Apple iPod, Sony 1 GB Pro Duo memory stick, and 1 GB Compact Flash Card.
Version 1.0 of OneCare was delivered back in June. (See "Microsoft Launches Live OneCare Security," May 31, 2006.) It costs $49.95 per year for up to three PCs.
[This article was updated to correct pricing information.]
About the Author
Stuart J. Johnston has covered technology, especially Microsoft, since February 1988 for InfoWorld, Computerworld, Information Week, and PC World, as well as for Enterprise Developer, XML & Web Services, and .NET magazines.