The deal will boost Trend Micro’s prospects in the Chinese consumer market. Towards the end of last year around 20% of the company’s revenue came from consumers.
In December 2004 Trend Micro won a deal to provide antivirus scanning for Microsoft’s around 190 million Hotmail users, and described the deal at that time as part of a renewed focus on the North American consumer market.
Trend Micro’s services to SINA’s customers will begin with email scanning and progress to online virus scanning for PCs and mobile devices, and protection from spam.
SINA has 101 million registered users, and over 12 million buyers of fee-based services. In 2003, SINA was ranked No.1 by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences as the most frequently visited web site in China.
Japan-based Trend already has sales, marketing, and R&D operations in Beijing, Shanghai and Nanjing.
