HP And Microsoft Team On Biz Apps

Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft plan to invest $300 million over three years to develop product sets that integrate their software and can be quickly installed by HP consultants.

Calling the effort People-Ready Business, the companies, by way of example, described a product that would provide integrated voice, data, and videoconferencing services based on Microsoft Exchange Server and other software.

The packages HP has in mind include business intelligence, business process integration, knowledge worker collaboration and content management, and messaging/unified communications, John McCain, senior VP of HP services said in a Webcast with Microsoft last week. HP officials say they intend to install the integrated software packages and enable customers to maintain them without additional technical support.

Microsoft is planning 30 products in the next year as part of the joint work, said Kevin Turner, chief operating officer at Microsoft. HP expects to have 17 packages initially, said David Swatzell, HP's director of Microsoft solutions practice.

IBM this past year has been emphasizing the use of prepackaged combinations of reusable software for services engagements in various industries. This is the so-called factory model that Accenture also has adopted. However, IBM generally uses its own software as the base for these packaged combinations.

HP will train 3,000 new consultants in Microsoft's Windows Vista and other products in order to expand its ability to implement Microsoft technologies. HP plans to train 22,000 existing consulting and technical support staff in the People-Ready Business approach, as well.

The companies say the two companies have 20,000 customers in common.