CRN Network
The popular AVG antivirus, which so far was available as an online download for Indian customers, will now be available locally in shrink-wrapped packages. AVG Technologies has partnered with the Milestone Interactive Group as its distributor for its consumer client security products that include the AVG antivirus, Internet Security Solution and Identity Protection packages.
Said Peter Baxter, Vice President, Business Development, AVG Technologies, “India figures prominently in our list of growth markets. We already have an installed base of 1.4 million Indian users who use downloaded AVG products. Nearly 10-12 percent of this base consists of paid subscribers, with the remaining using the free version. With local distribution, we aim to leverage our strong brand recall to become a leading player in the consumer AV market.”
AVG’s consumer offerings will include the basic AV package priced at Rs 999, the Internet Security Solution for one user at Rs 1,999, and for three users at Rs 2,499. The company will also make available Identity Protection, a security tool aimed at protecting personal information at a price of Rs 499.
Milestone, a leading distributor of interactive software products, is entering the ICT segment with this tie-up. Explained Jayant Sharma, CEO, Milestone Interactive Group, “Given the rapidly growing installed base of computers and Internet users in India, the time seemed just right for us to expand into the ICT security space.”
Milestone currently works with 1,200 retail stores across the country ranging from LFRs, consumer audio-video retailers, IT stores and single-door retailers. “Of these, nearly 200 are those who are traditional IT retailers,” said Sharma. “Our plan is to add 500 more IT resellers and retailers for AVG products by the year-end across 60 cities. We will follow a two-tier distribution model, appointing master resellers (sub-distributors) who will in turn sell to resellers for which the partner enrollment will soon begin.”
On the competition from established players Baxter said, “The Indian market is still largely untapped, with AV connect ratios of less than 15 percent in the consumer space. From a technology point of view, we are one-up on our competition with our Identity Protection and LinkScanner tools. We have also carefully studied the market and arrived at a competitive pricing.”
Stated Sharma, “Our USP is going to be reseller profitability. Margins offered on AVG are going to be far more attractive than what other players offer. Also, being in the retail space for so many years, we know exactly what channels and consumers want, and hence we will devise attractive schemes.” |