Waterloo, België en Boekarest, Roemenië, 3 Juni 2004 - MasterCard Europa heeft zijn Working in EuropeTM programma voor KMO’s uitgebreid met het schenken van een anti-virus software pakket, BitDefender Professional aan zijn corporate kaarthoudres.
De software wordt voor een jaar gratis aangeboden.
Dit is een Europese primeur voor BitDefender en MasterCard. Het is de KBC die deze software als eerste aan haar KMO MasterCard kaarthouders zal aanbieden. Er zijn reeds plannen om dit aanbod uit te breiden naar MasterCard KMO kaarthouders doorheen heel Europa, meer in het bijzonder in Spanje, Italië, Polen en Hongarije.
***vervolg persbericht in het Engels***
BitDefender PR Agentschap:
Marie Martens
Tel. +33.1.55.02.14.54
m.martens@Open2Europe.com
en
Mastercard Europe:
Louise Herbert
Tel. +32 (0)2 352 5647
louise_herbert@mastercard.com
Waterloo, Belgium and Bucharest, Romania, 3 June 2004 - MasterCard Europe has strengthened its Working in Europe with a small business card programme with the addition of a new offering to cardholders with the anti-virus software, BitDefender Professional. The software is offered as a free one year license to MasterCard small business card holders through MasterCard members.
The offer has gone 'live' first in Belgium through KBC who are currently rolling-out the software as part of their small business programme. Plans are already underway to extend the offering to MasterCard business card holders across Europe, most notably in Spain, Italy, Poland and Hungary.
Following research into the needs and aspirations of small business decision makers and current BusinessCard payment programmes, MasterCard Europe launched its 'Working in Europe' Programme in 2003.
"We recognise that small businesses valued benefits from their service suppliers that not only had a real impact on their day-to-day business but also added immediate value," said Tuuli Perkio, head of small business products, Corporate Payment Solutions, MasterCard Europe.
"With MasterCard the aim is to bring so much more than a gateway to managing business purchases and we have tried to bring together a portfolio of tangible offerings and benefits that our members can, in return, offer their small business clients." Maciej Dziobek, BitDefender Channel Sales Manager, SOFTWIN added, "With BitDefender Professional we can help with the need for reliable and secure anti-virus software, with a year's free license that business executives can download through a secure web interface."
BitDefender Professional is offered through SOFTWIN srl of Romania.
Currently priced at EUR 39.95 across all European markets, BitDefender Professional offers one of the most respected anti-virus and firewall software packages available in the world. It has already received a number of industry accolades in Europe, including the 2003 best solution for home PC protection by 'Personal Computer' magazine in the Netherlands, Germany's 'C't magazine für computer technik' magazine's most efficient virus scanner solution (2003) and Hungary's 'Virus Bulletin' 100% VB Award (2003).
About MasterCard International
MasterCard International is a leading global payments solutions company that provides a broad variety of innovative services in support of our global members' credit, deposit access, electronic cash, business-to-business and related payment programs. MasterCard International manages a family of well-known, widely accepted payment card brands including MasterCard , Maestro and Cirrus and serves financial institutions, consumers and businesses in over 210 countries and territories. The MasterCard award-winning Priceless advertising campaign is now seen in 96 countries and in 47 languages, giving the MasterCard brand a truly global reach and
scope. For more information go to www.mastercardinternational.com.
About SOFTWIN
Founded in 1990, SOFTWIN is a leading provider of computer software and services. SOFTWIN's 500-strong team of qualified professionals has managed over 10000 projects so far. The company has a strong presence on the US and European Union IT markets and develops along four interlinked businesslines: eContent, Data Security, Business Solutions and Customer Relationship Management. SOFTWIN is headquartered in Bucharest, Romania and has offices in Tettnang, Germany and Barcelona, Spain. Company Website:
http://www.softwin.ro
BitDefender provides security solutions to satisfy the protection requirements of today's computing environment, delivering effective threat management for over 38 million home and corporate users in more than 100 countries. BitDefender(tm) Antivirus is certified by all the major independent reviewers in the antivirus field - ICSA Labs, CheckMark and Virus Bulletin. Website: http://www.bitdefender.com
MasterCard helping small businesses
MasterCard is closely focused on providing the card programmes and support that small businesses need to succeed, particularly through its unique programme Working in Europe. Whether the organization is a start-up, a growing company or an established small business, with Working in Europe the company's executives have access to the most practical business-oriented tools and applications. It's all within the programme; everything from innovative card programmes to robust web-based reporting solutions and meaningful rewards, plus savings on many brand-name services they need for their business. Developed exclusively for small business, Working in Europe can help companies to think and act big - with the utmost in financial control and accountability. For more information go to www.mastercardbusiness.com