Norton by Symantec today announced expansion of its NortonLive Ultimate Help Desk service to include support for Mac computers and applications. This personal IT help desk service for consumers and small businesses with up to 10 computers now offers multi-platform support for Mac OS systems and applications, as well as Windows-based systems and many digital devices. With Norton market research finding that U.S. households have an average of 4.5 devices between desktop computers, laptops tablets, mobile phones and more, Ultimate Help Desk provides one-stop remote help that’s easy, convenient and affordable compared to expensive and often time consuming in-store or in-home services.
According to a recent Norton research study, 11 percent of U.S. households use a combination of PC- and Mac-based computer systems at home. Both PC and Mac users cited performance degradation and Internet connection problems as the most common issues encountered. One in four PC owners and one in three Mac owners expressed interest in a third-party technical support plan that would provide year-round technical service coverage for all of their computers and electronic devices.
“For households and small offices with mixed environments of PCs and Macs, NortonLive Ultimate Help Desk provides an easy-to-use service that supports a heterogeneous computing environment,” said Kevin Chapman, vice president and general manager, Worldwide Consumer Services, Symantec, in the press release. “Problems commonly arise at the most inopportune moments and with Ultimate Help Desk users now have access to technical experts anytime they need troubleshooting or remediation regardless of the platform they are using.”
NortonLive Ultimate Help Desk now supports Mac OS 10.5 and above, as well as iLife, iWork and Mac Mail applications, in addition to already supported Apple products, including iPad, iPhone and iPod. It offers consumers and small business owners with mixed PC and Mac environments an affordable 24×7 live service, available 365-days of the year, from a trusted source. Subscription-based offerings are available as Personal, Family and Small Business plans with unlimited support for a broad range of computer and digital devices, including PCs, Macs, wireless routers, printers, scanners, smartphones, digital cameras, and more. The affordable service provides unlimited help and support for diagnosis and resolution of setup, security, performance, maintenance and data transfer problems – assisting just about anything connected to the Mac or PC. With every help desk subscription comes a one-time setup service that includes the NortonLive Easy Support Tool, a security assessment and PC performance tuning. The availability, coverage and expertise of a trusted brand make NortonLive Ultimate Help Desk a prime choice to support the latest technologies in a cost efficient matter with live support.
NortonLive Ultimate Help Desk is available in the U.S. and Canada. NortonLive Ultimate Help Desk comes in three subscription offerings including Personal, Family and Small Business plans covering from one to ten PCs and Macs. Prices start at US$19.99 per month per PC or Mac. More information here.
Source: Symantec
Unnecessary.
Not if you’re a Windows sufferer. You’d be Nortoned up the kazoo, as it were.
Wow, that’ll be the most boring job ever.
But, if you are on the Mac Only desk, you’ll get a lot of reading or gameplay in! (or sleep…pick your poison!)
The Maytag repairman has branched out. He now services Macs.
However, he is still not busy.
Norton is EVIL.
I will never put a Norton product on my Mac.
NEVER EVER EVER!
Chuklz,
Are you confusing Dr. Peter Norton with Symantec the evil conglomerate who bought his soul in 1990?
April 1st?
In other news;
Schwinn Children’sTricycle Works has today announced expansion of its SchwinnLive Ultimate Children’s Tricycle Help Desk service to include support for Lamborghini and Ferrari motor vehicles.
Wow, I haven’t seen Norton on Macs since OS 8 maybe. Guess, this is another sure sign of change of tides.
Will it me as slow as molasses in January, just like their software? (Molasses in July to those of you south of the Equator.)
krquet – they released OS X versions years ago, but who needs them?
If you check your local telephone directory you will find pages and pages of businesses offering PC repair, service, virus removal, security software install, OS reinstall, file recovery, driver repair/install, Internet configuration, network configuration, and of course application and OS help. Many business and huge demand. Do the same for Mac and there are a few, mostly associated with resellers. The reason for the disparity is obvious. Macs just work better, are more secure and are much more consistent and intuitive. Norton is barking up the wrong tree. And if their past Mac efforts are any indication you would not want them anywhere near your precious Mac(s). I have 4 Mac Pros running FCP and adobe products on a network with big raid drives and back up, all connected to the Internet, all with many other utilities and software installed by the many users. It just works. People bring their own computers in jump on the network, wired or wireless, transfer files, use the net, do their work, have a little fun, mount thier own media drives, it just works. Occasionally someone brings in a PC laptop. Then the fun starts. Why can I connect? It says I’m connected but I can’t get google etc etc. After futzing around with the laberiynthine mess called windows whatever we get them connected. Usually the next time they come in with a project they have a shiny new Mac. Cheers. The Dr