Vendor Spotlight:

HP OPENS CENTER FOR PUBLIC SECTOR IT THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

HP announced the opening of the HP Center for Public Sector IT Thought Leadership, located within HP's downtown Washington, D.C. facility.

The center is a virtual hub to HP's network of more than 80 solution centers around the globe, which offer the tools and expertise to develop, test and validate solutions on the latest technologies without the risks associated with in-house testing.

Public sector organizations of all sizes can come to the center to discuss how to best integrate their technology environments, improve access to information and collaboration, and ultimately transform the way that technology enables their operations.

"This new center further demonstrates HP's commitment to helping public sector organizations manage costs, function more effectively and better serve their constituents," said Bill Mutell, senior vice president, Worldwide Public Sector, Health and Education, HP. "With this new center, HP can more easily demonstrate the breadth of our technology and services portfolio - from handhelds and printers to services to some of the world's most powerful supercomputers."

The HP Center for Public Sector IT Thought Leadership is the latest example of HP's continued expansion in the public sector, an area in which HP recently announced more than $1 billion in new revenue. The center offers:

• State-of-the-art audio/video conferencing and data connectivity with all other HP solution centers worldwide, enabling live "forum" environments that enable active participation by individuals around the globe;
• A virtual demo center for reviewing and experiencing all HP IT solution offerings via the HP Solution Demo Portal, allowing customers to see and "take the controls" of various HP technology solutions;
• A virtual design center for government end-users and solution partners to plan proof of concepts and prototype solutions on HP equipment;
• A media-rich executive environment for cross-governmental collaboration and briefings.

The center will also provide a forum for information exchange between industry innovators and public sector leaders and decision-makers in Congress, the White House and foreign governments. The center's close proximity to numerous public sector customers in Washington allows for onsite collaborations and reduced travel, while still allowing remote access to the entire network of HP IT solutions.

"Success in any government enterprise requires an understanding of the dynamic interaction among the three pillars of people, process and technology," said Jim Weynand, vice president, Public Sector - Americas, HP. "Having the center in Washington, D.C. will undoubtedly help our government and public sector customers make more informed decisions that save time and money and prepare them to manage and support people and programs effectively. What's more, the center will enable government customers to focus on building truly Adaptive Enterprises that synchronize business and IT to capitalize on change."

About HP

HP is a technology solutions provider to consumers, businesses and institutions globally. The company's offerings span IT infrastructure, global services, business and home computing, and imaging and printing. For the four fiscal quarters ended Oct. 31, 2004, HP revenue totaled $79.9 billion. More information about HP is available at http://www.hp.com.