Renee J. James, senior vice president and general manager of the Software and Services Group at Intel, discussed Intel plans to buy security company McAfee for $7.68 billion in an interview with CNET on Thursday.

James is responsible for delivering software products and support across for Intel's product lines. In addition, she is responsible for the Intel worldwide developer programs as well as R&D for next-generation software. James is also chairman of two Intel subsidiaries: Wind River Systems and Havok, both of which report into the Software and Services Group.

There are things you've already been doing with McAfee before the announcement which led to the acquisition.
James: What's happening is that we're partners with them, working with them, using existing features in the microprocessor today such as VT (virtualization technology), AMT (Active Management Technology), things that have been in products for years. And it was through our conversations and prototyping there. (We thought that) with much deeper discussion and sharing of R&D opportunities we would come out with an enhanced line of software and services products. We thought about that and how that's really exciting to us. Except, how would we get paid for that? McAfee would get paid (but Intel wouldn't). Intel's platforms could be measurably better, consumers could be better off. But how would our shareholders get paid back for that opportunity? Which led to us make the consideration of the acquisition.

And what is Intel's status. That is, pre-McAfee acquisition?
James: We have some hardware security features in our silicon today that allow software companies like McAfee to do anti-theft. That is, turn off the PC if it's stolen, the next time it connects to the network it's blocked, that kind of thing. And we have multiple vendors who are partners with us on this. But we do not have any software or services products in security today. And I don't think we could catch up to the knowledge base and experience and IT portfolio of this company (McAfee).