Where are MS Going With AntiSpyware?

There's a lot of conjecture about that MS are going to start charging for their new Antispyware program; fueling this is the fact that MS bought an antivirus company last year, and plan to release their own antivirus program shortly (in beta at least).

Here's the directions MS could go in:

• Charge for Antispyware, and charge for subscriptions to its update service (in the manner of Symantec);
• Bundle the software directly into the OS (in the manner of the XP firewall);
• Integrate the software directly with IE, either as a "patch", or as part of a whole new version of IE (which is rumoured to be released with a "refresh" version of WinXP, which will also include the XP versions of "Avalon", and "Indigo");

So, which one's more likely?

First, I don't think MS are likely to force users to pay for an antispyware program, especially as spyware usually takes advantage of flaws in the OS and IE - there'd be an outcry & rejection of the software in favour of other company's offerings; besides, why should I move from my favourite Antispyware brand to MS's offering? What would be the point?

Second, bundling the software for free is likely to get MS into trouble; it may be seen as anti-competitive.

My own money is on MS integrating the software seamlessly into a new version of IE; IE has been blasted lately as outdated and insecure, and is losing browser market share to Firefox. What better way to fight back than by producing a brand new browser with lots of much-requested new features, and has security products built in? Note also that, when "Avalon" is released (& remember, it will run on XP), IE is going to require an update to IE, to integrate XAML-parsing tech.

So let's see what happens.