Intel Corp’s $7.7 billion acquisition of McAfee Inc reveals the world’s largest chip maker’s intention in enhancing its image security-wise, as it venture to break free from the PC market into the flourishing market of mobile wireless gadgets. The latest development will afford Intel a definite advantage over its rivals, who are gaining ground steadily with a slew of top-drawer acquisitions.
“McAfee focuses purely on security, with a multi-dimensional strategy and approach to the delivery of protected technologies and products and a vision we share on the future. Bringing software closer to the silicon will help Intel strengthen security to more effectively counter the increasingly sophisticated threats of today and tomorrow,” clarified a statement from Intel India.
The acquisition will be immensely helpful for Intel in boosting its mobile wireless plan by ‘helping to better assure customer and consumer security concerns as these billions of devices connect’.
With both Intel and McAfee having strong presence in India, the latest takeover is bound to leave significant impact on their functioning. While Intel has about 2,500 engineers in the country, McAfee employs over a 1,000, most of them based in Bangalore. In the wake of the buyout, the Indian arms of the tech majors will be working towards making security an integral part of the PC hardware and mobile gadgets.
“Bringing software closer to the silicon will allow Intel to strengthen security to more effectively counter the increasingly sophisticated threats of today and tomorrow. Our joint expertise will better protect consumers and businesses and drive innovation across Intel’s product offerings, and, through our world-class labs, add R&D knowledge that could quickly bring entirely new innovations to market,” said an Intel release.
The acquisition comes as a surprise to many analysts in India. With too many players in the field, they are at a loss to predict the implications of the deal.



