The Nation Newspaper

Tag: HP

  • HP kicks off Star Wars campaign

    HP kicks off Star Wars campaign

    HP, a device manufacturing company, has partnered with Star Wars, the American epic space opera franchise, to create exceptional experience for its customers.

    The HP Star Wars campaign, which was kicked off recently, selected HP customers across Lagos, to have a feel of the campaign at a private screening of Star Wars: The Force Awakens VII.

    At the screening, customers had the rare opportunity of experiencing the new HP Star WarsTM Special Edition Notebook, loaded with customised Star Wars images and movies.

    The new campaign, which is global, is being run in Nigeria and Kenya simultaneously for the African market, with a consumer promotion built into it to ensure customers get full value for their money.

    Marketing Manager for HP West, East and North Africa, Tolulope Lawani, described the campaign as the brand’s way of further supporting its drive to reach the young and old.

    According to him, to localise the campaign, HP will be partnering with a Nigerian artiste, Ice Prince, to engage with their consumers and fans in the ‘Awaken Your Force Competition,’ where fans with the most creative entries and most likes are entered to win amazing HPdevices.

  • HP’s Technology Tour ‘ll boost ICT development, says Lagos

    The Lagos State government has said the deployment of information communication technology (ICT) tools to businesses and governance has reduced running cost, improve efficiency and enhance productivity.

    Its Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Mrs. Nike Animashaun, spoke while declaring open, the HP’s 2015 Technology Tour at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos.

    He said businesses around the world need advanced technology as a way of reducing the cost of doing business while also churning out high scale productivity that redefines economies globally.

    She added that events such the HP Technology Tour will help fast-track the growth of the industry as it would provide stakeholders opportunity to brainstorm.

    She said: “As a responsible government, we are aware that with information technology, business transactions have become seamless globally, reducing physical presence and creating breath-taking pace of information exchange. The Lagos State government is happy to be part of the HP Technology Tour 2015.

    “An event of this magnitude will boost Nigeria’s ICT sector and enhance greater technological advancements through extensive brainstorming on pertinent issues within the IT industry alongside exhibition of the latest advancements in computer technology.”

    The tech firm explained that it is part of its contribution to information technology development in Nigeria. The event which also held in Abuja, was a gathering of captains of industry, small and medium scale business owners and IT professionals who were fascinated by the array of products of HP.

    The technology tour is aimed at providing businesses and IT professionals the opportunity to tap into the latest technology; and improve the performance and overall profitability of businesses while also guaranteeing security of business intelligence.

    “Growing with businesses globally, HP recognises the potential of information technology and have consistently re-innovate to ensure its customers are not left behind, especially businesses who dear to survive the very challenging global economic terrain.

    “The HP Technology Tour, presently being conducted across the globe is another giant move by HP to bring its customers closer to the latest in information technology.

    “With these new entrants, HP is redefining the style of doing business as a world class company. Investing over 10 per cent of its income on research and development last year, HP is focusing on creating values for businesses, ensuring mobility, cloud with enhanced security features that makes every HP product unique,” an official of the firm said on the sideline of the event.

    HP added that cloud, big data, security, mobility are reshaping the IT industry. HP World Tour offers incredible depth of information and access to experts from HP, HP partners and other professionals. Whether as a business or an individual trying to get the next project off the ground or to bring new ideas back to the organisation, HP World Tour provides the answers.

  • HP earnings fail to impress investors ahead of split

    Technology giant Hewlett-Packard’s fourth quarter earnings failed to impress investors ahead of its big business split next year.

    Its revenue fell 2.5 per cent to $28.4billion (18billion euro) from a year ago, better than a market consensus of a $28.76billion decline.

    But that did little to boost confidence in the struggling PC maker, with HP shares down nearly one per cent in after-hours trading.

    Profit also fell 5.7 per cent to $1.3billion in the three months to October year-on-year.

    HP’s quarterly revenue fell in almost every business segment.

    Divisions such as enterprise group and enterprise services saw revenue falls of four per cent and seven per cent respectively.

    The earnings report was the first since HP announced last month that it would split its business into two separate companies.

    The U.S. firm intends to separate its better-performing computer and printer business from its corporate hardware and services operations by the end of the 2015 financial year.

    “There’s still a lot left to do, but our efforts to date, combined with the separation we announced in October, sets the stage for accelerated progress in the 2015 financial year and beyond,” said chief executive Meg Whitman in a statement.

    Revenues in the company’s largest segment – its PC division – grew by four per cent during the quarter, after a 12 per cent rise in the previous three months.

    HP has been facing stiff competition from rivals such as China’s Lenovo, which overtook it as the world’s largest PC maker in 2012.

     

  • NITDA wants HP, others to fund local content, R&D

    The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has called on foreign original equipement manufacturers (OEMs) to invest in information communication technology (ICT) research and development (R&D) initiatives.

    Specifically, NITDA wants Microsoft, Delll HP, Dell, Intel, Samsung and others to assist in developing the local component of indigenous hardwares to make them compete favourably with the foreign ones.

    Acting Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Ashiru Daura, who made the call over the weekend, said a well developed local computer industry will create employment opportunities for both skilled and unskilled manpower in the country and boost gross domestic product (GDP) growth.

    Indigenous OEMs are Zinox, Omatek, Beta and Veda Technologies Limited. Despite Federal Government’s directive to all its ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) and tertiary institutions it owns, to patronise indigenous OEMs, the preferred brands by these institions are foreign brands.

    With statistics indicating that almost 60 per cent of the 743,000 computer units sold in the country last year came from the stables of HP and Dell brands alone, experts are calling for a change of focus.

    Daura said a well-developed ICT industry could provide the springboard for wealth creation and rally the support of government to confer the status of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) on citizens who carry out outsourcing business operations and ICT procurements for state governments.

    He argued that though the number of homes with computers and Internet access has grown dramatically, not much has been achieved in the area of exported software and hardware as the country continues to be a net importer of PCs, switches, network access devices and softwares.

  • HP unveils ElitePad 900

    HP has unveiled the HP ElitePad 900. It is a tablet that balances a beautiful design with enterprise-grade features, functionality and support.

    Designed for business, government healthcare and retail, it features HP ElitePad Smart Jackets, which add connectivity options and longer battery life along with specific add-ons that customise the tablet for specialised uses.

    The HP ElitePad is an ultrathin, lightweight Microsoft® Windows 8 tablet that delivers features to keep IT managers happy and touts a design that employees will crave. It offers full serviceability, enhanced security and manageability found in HP Elite PCs, packed with a battery that passed over 115,000 hours of tests.

    Speaking at the launch of the HP Elitepad 900 in Lagos, Ify Udoji, the Category Manager, PC HP Nigeria Limited, said: “The Elitepad 900 is not a mere tablet, but a total enterprise solution targeted for your business needs. The product comes in a thin, sleek design and offers one up to 18 hours of non-stop Elitepad magic from day-to-day with its expansion jacket.”

    Consumer Channels Group Director, Microsoft, Mark Ihimoyan, said: “One of the features of the HP Elitepad 900 is that it allows one to consume and create content. Also, with the product, one can go from a touch screen to a non-touch screen function just at the click of a button, thus catering to the needs of varied consumers. We are proud of our partnership with HP and excited to be here at the unveiling of this device. If you want to stay on the cutting edge of technology, this device is a must.”

     

     

     

  • HP’s Windows 8 PC Portfolio out

    HP’s Windows 8 PC Portfolio out

    HP, world’s leading technology company has announced availability and pricing details for its new lineup of consumer and business PCs designed to work with Windows 8.

    The new HP products, ranging from stylish notebooks and desktops to a tablet, leverage premium materials and a purposeful design philosophy to deliver a distinct HP look and feel.

    Unique form factors—including a hybrid PC with a detachable screen, a business tablet with functionality-boosting HP Smart Jackets and an ultrathin all-in-one (AiO) desktop—enable users to take advantage of Windows 8 along with HP innovations such as HP TouchSmart technology.

    “HP’s portfolio of ultrathin notebooks, sleek all-in-ones and high-performance business PCs is designed to meet the needs of customers anticipating the release of the Windows 8 OS,” said James Mouton, senior vice president and general manager, Personal Computer Global Business Unit, HP.

    “Consumers and organisations now can choose from a broad range of HP PCs featuring multitouch displays, versatile form factors, sleek designs or customisable solutions that address their needs,” Mouton said.

     

  • HP wins award for crime-fighting mobile technology

    HP wins award for crime-fighting mobile technology

    HP’s mobile authentication tool has been awarded a Records and Information Management Awareness (RIMA) Award which recognises information security as a critical aspect of business in Africa.

    The award-winning technology uses a unique code on security labels to tell customers within seconds if ink and toner supplies are genuine HP products or illegal counterfeits. This empowers HP customers to spot suspicious printing supplies – turning smartphones into crime-fighting equipment and deterring criminal gangs.

    Each code can be validated using a QR code reader downloaded as a smartphone ‘app’ or entered into the HP Mobile Authentication website. An invalid response indicates that the product may not be genuine and automatically gives the user instructions on what to do next.

    Responding to the award, Rita Amuchienwa, the Supplies Country Manager, Printing & Personal Systems, English West Africa, said the HP Anti-counterfeiting Programme works hard to protect partners and customers by making it difficult to produce, distribute and sell counterfeits.

    “This recent innovation in labels and packaging is an example of HP using technology to stay one step ahead of fraudsters, especially in Nigeria where counterfeiting is a serious issue. We are honoured that this RIMA award recognises our efforts in this area and celebrates the innovation and authenticity which is integral to our brand and products.”Amuchienwa stated.

    Oyewole Oyedokun, the President, RIMA explained that the Records and Information Management Awareness Foundation  created the awards to promote the proper management and security of records and information.

    “We are delighted to name HP winner of the Mobile Information Management category for its vision in creating a technology which uses information and software to protect businesses from illegal counterfeiting.” he said.

    In HP’s fiscal year 2012, 1.3 million illicit items were confiscated by law enforcers in the Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa regions, supported by HP’s investigations teams. These illegal counterfeit goods are manufactured by criminal gangs and investigation and prevention of this issue take up the valuable time of government officials.

    Counterfeiting is an important issue in Nigeria where fraudsters trick consumers and local businesses into buying sub-standard print supplies using unknown chemicals. According to research conducted by Forrester in 2012, 50 per cent of respondents in Nigeria said they had either been offered or purchased counterfeit or suspect cartridges – the highest number of organisations interviewed in Africa.

     

  • $300m global research boosts HP operations

    The newly injected $300 million investment for global researches would boost new market and innovations in Nigeria and other Africa countries, HP Global Information Communication Technology (ICT) has said.

    Briefing reporters at the end of HP EG GEN 8 Server Launch, the HP Blade Systems Manager, Majed Zied, said the company aims to accelerate server market in African countries.

    “HP is accelerating Server Market Transformation with Self-sufficient HP ProLiant Gen8 Servers,” adding that the new generation of ISS Proliant servers has been launched.

    “This is a result of a $300 million research to provide better services to our customers, the project was called Project voyager. With intelligent technologies that automate tasks and significantly improve uptime, HP ProLiant Gen 8, with HP ProActive Insight architecture addresses the top concerns of enterprises.”

    He said companies spend an average of $24 million over three years on manual operations to support servers, stating that HP ProLiant Gen8 triples administrator productivity has eliminated most manual operations, such as server updates, which typically take five hours of administrator time per rack of servers.

    Also, the HP Public Sector Manager in Nigeria, Chukwuma Okpaka, said with the new strategy, Nigeria will no longer represent Ghana and that the Nigerian market for HP will only cater for Nigeria, while Ghana will now be run independently.”

    “The skyrocketing cost of operations in the data center is unsustainable, and enterprises are looking to HP to help solve this problem.

    “We are delivering innovative intelligence technologies that enable servers to virtually take care of themselves, allowing data center staff to devote more time to business innovation,” he stated