Mobile Antivirus: Handset Manufacturers or Wireless Providers

Mobile Antivirus: Handset Manufacturers or Wireless Providers By: Eric Everson, Founder - MyMobiSafe.com

When Nokia announced that it would offer Symantec mobile antivirus via their S60, the mobile security industry caught a slight glimpse of what could happen throughout the industry. The industry is still taking shape and the question of the times has become who will jump into mobile security first, the handset manufactures or the wireless providers?

This is an interesting debate as mobile security add-ons open the avenue of enhancing revenue diversity for both sides of the field. Mobile handset providers would have the ability to charge a greater premium by offering preloaded mobile security solutions, while carries have the ability of increasing their monthly average revenue per user (ARPU – a key wireless carrier metric). Add-on security services such as MyMobiSafe® are a way to pursue notable profit premiums while positioning the company as a leading innovator of mobile security.

As these deals are yet to take shape throughout the market, the opportunity for either the manufactures or the providers is at a vulnerable stage. As many add-on services favor only the wireless carriers, mobile security is also an opportunity for handset manufactures. So the question remains, who will jump in first?

Eric Everson, Founder - MyMobiSafe.com