Internet protection company AVG Technologies will become the exclusive provider of mobile security to Sony smartphones and tablets under a three-year partnership with the Tokyo-based telecommunications giant.
All Sony Xperia Z3 devices will now feature a 180 day trial of AVG’s AntiVirus Pro for Android application. Following that period, users can opt to subscribe to the service or scale down to a free version of the app.
Among the features included on the paid-for version of the software are app and file scanners to remove viruses, malware or other potential damaging infections, and a phone locater that helps owners find their phone if it becomes lost or stolen. AVG’s AntiVirus Free has been downloaded over 100 million downloads on the Google Play Store.
“The popularity of consumer apps, device proliferation and the bring-your-own-device trend in the workplace means we are spending more time on our connected devices and entrusting them with a broader range of personal and financial data,” said David Ferguson, AVG’s general manager consumer and mobile in a statement.
“As a result, more people now expect to put in place security protection when they purchase a mobile device, whatever they plan to use it for.
“AVG is already looking ahead to a future with AVG Zen where smart, connected devices in the home and personal devices like wearables could also be protected. With this vision of the internet of things starting to become a reality, people are confidently getting online through smartphones and tablets and providing AVG’s security apps will give Xperia device users peace of mind.”
Just last month, Sony revised its annual earnings forecast after estimated losses for the year were believed to be four times bigger because of increased mobile phone competition. The company now expects to post losses of 230bn yen (€1.65bn), up from its previous estimate of 50bn yen (€410m), which the company attributes to the investments it made in the smartphone market,
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Mobile security image via Shutterstock
