[LINK] Network Associates Dumps PGP

[Pilcher, Fred]

A colleague of mine made some enquiries about PGPDisk and received this in
part response. I assume it's public knowledge though I wasn't aware of it.

<snip>
Unfortunately PGP is no longer developed by Network Associates, which means
that the version currently available is the last to be made by NAI.  They
are currently seeking a new company to purchase the brand name and
technologies.  

In the meantime, the product is available until the end of March 2002, and
all new sales of the existing version will still be supported by NAI,
including any technical support required if purchased.  The current version
is an excellent product, and works extremely well, it is just that until a
suitable purchaser of the PGP brand is found, there will no longer be any
new versions or upgrades.  

Until a suitable purchaser can be found there will be no version of PGP
desktop range that is compatible with Windows XP operating system.  It is
compatible with all other Windows version before Windows XP, i.e. Windows95,
Windows 98, Windows ME and Windows 2000 Professional.
</snip>

I have some opinions as to why NAI didn't make a commercial success of PGP,
though I don't think it would be appropriate to air them on a public list.

I wonder what happens now. I assume that all they're marketing is the right
to the commercial product and its spinoffs, such as PGPDisk. As I understand
it Bob Zimmerman made it a condition of the sale that PGP would always
remain free for personal use.

Could this be Microsoft's next acquisition?

Cheers,

Fred