F-Secure and TeliaSonera launch protection solution for smartphones

May 04, 2005:

F-Secure Corporation and TeliaSonera Finland have today announced a new partnership in the fight against mobile threats. The F-Secure Mobile Anti-Virus™ service, a protective solution for smartphones against mobile viruses and other malicious content, is now available to all Sonera mobile subscribers.

F-Secure Mobile Anti-Virus is the most comprehensive solution available for protecting smartphones against harmful content, from malicious applications and messages. It provides real-time, on-device protection and automatic over-the-air antivirus updates. While the solution is currently available for Symbian OS devices, the same service will also be available for Windows Mobile devices during the second half of the year.

“The novelty in the implementation with Sonera is the fact that they are the first operator in the Nordic region to offer a continuous subscribable antivirus service to its customers. This is a similar business model to that which most Internet Service Providers are offering to their Internet users. We believe that this will indicate the future direction of the mobile security market and we at F-Secure are happy that Sonera is once more in the frontline of operators setting the directions of mobile business,” said Antti Vihavainen, Vice President, Mobile Security at F-Secure.

“TeliaSonera already offers its Internet customers F-Secure products and the extension of protection to mobile phones is a logical step,” said Pasi Mehtonen, Vice President, Mobile Services at TeliaSonera. “The new continuous subscription model has already shown its strengths in the PC environment and will most likely become a standard feature in evolving mobile security markets,” he added.

Mobile operators are the natural antivirus service providers for phone users. The easiest and the most efficient way to offer the required protection is a hosted service, which allows automated distribution of the antivirus software and updates directly to the mobile device over a wireless connection. For the operator, a wireless antivirus service is preventive insurance against end user support load, terminal downtime, negative user experience and bad publicity in case of infections by mobile malware.

The users of F-Secure Mobile Anti-Virus will pay the subscription fee as part of their normal monthly invoice. The application is available in the WAP download area at wap.soneraplaza.fi. Users can download the antivirus client over the air directly to the phone and will be able to enjoy a free antivirus update service test period. After the trial period, the users can subscribe to the service directly from their phone. The continuous service costs 1,95 euros for each month of update service.

About F-Secure Corporation

F-Secure Corporation is the fastest growing publicly listed company globally in the antivirus and intrusion prevention industry with more than 50% revenue growth in 2004. F-Secure services and software protect individuals and businesses against computer viruses and other threats coming through the Internet or mobile networks. Our award-winning solutions include antivirus and desktop firewall with intrusion prevention, antispam and antispyware solutions. Our key strength is our proven speed of response to new threats. For businesses our solutions feature a centrally managed and well integrated suite of solutions for workstations and servers alike. Focused partners offer security as a service for those companies that do not wish to build security expertise in-house. Founded in 1988, F-Secure has been listed on the Helsinki Exchanges since 1999. We have our headquarters in Helsinki, Finland, and offices in USA, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Japan. F-Secure is supported by a global ecosystem of service partners, value added resellers and distributors in over 50 countries. F-Secure protection is also available through mobile handset manufacturers such as Nokia and as a service through major Internet Service Providers, such as Deutsche Telekom, France Telecom and Charter Communications. The latest real-time virus threat scenario news are available at the F-Secure Antivirus Research Team weblog at http://www.f-secure.com/weblog/

About TeliaSonera

TeliaSonera is the Nordic and Baltic telecommunications leader. TeliaSonera also holds strong positions within mobile communications in Russia, Eurasia and Turkey. TeliaSonera offers customers services within mobile communications, Internet, data communications and fixed telephony. TeliaSonera International Carrier offers wholesale IP and voice services, as well as high capacity bandwidth to destinations in Europe and across the Atlantic.

For more information, please contact:

 
F-Secure Corporation
Antti Vihavainen, Vice President, Mobile Security
PL 24
FIN-00181 Helsinki
E-mail: antti.vihavainen@f-secure.com
Tel.  +358 40 523 3880
Fax. +358 9 2520 5001

 
Media inquiries:
Jaana Sirkia, Communications Manager
E-mail: firstname.lastname@f-secure.com
Tel. ++358 9 2520 5290