Virus Software company Trend Micro Inc says it is completing a major overhaul of its virus scanning engine and will launch a new range of integrated component software early in the new year. The re-work sees new components for scanning Java and ActiveX software. Trend also says it’s planning to launch a new OfficeScan product for Microsoft’s small business server next month with enhanced virus scanning software for Microsoft Exchange. The company is 35% owned by Softbank and also lists chip giant Intel as a 2% stakeholder. It has penciled in February for its initial public offering on the Japanese stock market and has plans to follow up with a Nasdaq listing. It hopes the flotation will help fund acquisitions to help broaden its email management offerings although it refused to reveal further details. The company claims its network centric approach makes it unique in the virus software market and enables users to administer the applications over large systems more easily. Despite the dominance of McAfee and Symantec in the US market, Trend claims an 80% share of the Japanese market and world-wide revenues of around $80m. It also has an impressive list of OEMs including Intel, Lotus, Sun and Netscape. Meanwhile, director of marketing Pat Bitton says the company is still in legal proceedings with rivals McAfee Associates Inc and Symantec Corp but says it hopes to settle out of court. Britton claims its products support more platforms than McAfee’s rival WebShield offering which it says is only up on Linux.
