HP Ramps Up Solutions Attractive During a Recession Recovery
From Total Care updates to low-energy printers to data-protecting storage systems, Hewlett-Packard works to meet the needs of SMBs in a slow-growth environment.
HP has introduced offerings geared toward helping SMBs increase data security and productivity while minimizing risk and reducing energy use. Those offerings come as HP expands its HP Total Care portfolio.
Kathy Chou, HP’s vice president of worldwide SMB strategy, says the company has enriched the Total Care offerings to meet the needs of its customers. “By investing in new IT solutions now,” she says, “SMBs will be in a stronger position to seize growth opportunities and thrive as the economy rebounds.”
Anil Miglani, senior vice president of IT AMI-Partners–a market intelligence and venture capital investment analysis firm for IT and digital media fronts–says SMBs will look to protect their existing technology investments as the economy recovers in the near future. “HP is well-prepared to help SMB customers achieve this balanced growth through its comprehensive Total Care portfolio,” she says.
Security and Risk Management Benefits
For SMBs needing increased levels of security to protect their data, HP introduced these new solutions:
- HP Total Care Business Risk Mitigation (click here for promotional PDF)–This solution offers customizable configurations of servers, storage, networking, and security. HP says these solutions can help reduce outages by as much as 85 percent.
- HP StorageWorks X3000 Network Storage Systems–SMBs can minimize data loss risks by managing and protecting their file and application data with HP StorageWorks MSA2000 G2 storage arrays. The bundles efficiently manage data through built-in elimination of duplicate files, replication, and protection against drive failures. SMBs can also keep costs in check by not paying extra license fees for networking protocols, file replication, or snapshot capabilities.
- HP StorageWorks X500 Data Vault–This product helps make data management more affordable. Protecting the critical business data of SMBs, the X500 data vault enables easy file-sharing regardless of location. It also automates backups. With a low purchase price that starts at $699, it can save SMBs up to 22 percent compared to similar competing products.
Productivity and Mobility Benefits
To help customers save money, gain productivity, and efficiently manage their businesses, HP has also announced the following:
- HP ProCurve 1810G Switch Series—This affordable, simple-to-use network infrastructure aims to help SMBs reduce costs and improve productivity. Customers can easily upgrade to Gigabit network speeds and configure and maintain the network with the intuitive Web user interface. The switches also include a choice of deployment options, including flexible mounting options, a fanless design for silent operation, and a Power-over-Ethernet model for connectivity in locations without readily available power supplies.
- HP ProBook 5310m Notebook PC—Starting at $699, HP claims this notebook PC to be “the world’s thinnest full-performance notebook.” It measures at 0.9-inches thick and weighs 3.7 pounds. The notebook sports a 13.3-inch diagonal LED high-definition display and a standard voltage processor.
Energy-Saving Benefits
For SMBs looking to save on energy costs and/or minimize their environmental impact, HP has also unveiled new printing and online marketing solutions. They include:
- HP Color LaserJet Professional CP5220 Printer (click here for promotional PDF)–Available for purchase in Asian and Europe, this line of printers is the first printer to offer HP’s Auto-Off Technology, which intelligently senses when there is no print activity and automatically adjusts the power settings
- HP LaserJet “Professional” Printers–Customers can choose from a comprehensive line while larger organizations can select from the HP LaserJet “Enterprise” portfolio.
- MarketSplash by HP–This Web service enables HP printer and PC customers in the United States to download and edit hundreds of professional-quality brochure, flyer, and business card templates for in-house printing at no charge.
- HP and Yahoo! Portal–Through the HP Creative Studio, HP Total Care, site and Yahoo! Small Business portal, customers can receive special offers including Web hosting prices for as low as $7.46 a month as well as the ability to access custom Web design services from Logoworks by HP.
To complement all of its new solutions, HP has also launched a new services and financing campaign to help SMBs purchase, use, and manage their IT resources.
From now until Dec. 31 of this year, SMBs in the U.S. can receive up to $1,000 cash back when purchasing a new HP LaserJet, Officejet Pro, or Scanjet while also recycling an old printer through the HP Trade-In and Save Program. Within the last six months, HP has generated nearly $16 million in revenue and sold more than 17,000 units through the program.
Lastly, HP has enhanced SMB offerings available through its channel partners, including channel-only products, channel-led Managed Print Services (MPS) programs, and HP certified solutions.
For example, products available through the channel will initially focus on the workflow, imaging, and printing security and job accounting, and device management arenas. Furthermore, HP will invest greater in tools and programs that enable reseller partners to offer MPS.
“In the US,” states a corporate press release, “HP has established new partnerships with industry leaders who offer managed print infrastructure and services for resale by VAR partners.”
