Hewlett-Packard Co. is launching two new IT solutions for small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs), aiming to give them a boost with their technology and to jumpstart their agility.
Announced today, HP SMB Solutions will be delivered to SMBs through the channel, while HP Financial Services (HPFS) Partner Connection will be available to them as an online tool.
For HP SMB Solutions, channel partners will be offering SMBs bundles of hardware, software, services, and solutions from not just HP, but other providers like AT&T and Google Inc. SMBs can order them by logging onto a communications portal, helping them find the business solutions that will best suit them. The solution is now available in both Canada and the U.S.
And as a handy add-on to HP SMB Solutions, HP is also launching the HP Business Helpdesk, which will give SMBs IT support if they don’t already have a managed services provider tackling their IT needs for them. Running 24/7, the service provides support for PC and software applications from Microsoft Corp., Apple Inc., and Android operating systems, as well as for connectivity issues for mobile devices and printers. While the service will be available in the U.S. in June, it will land in Canada at some point in the fourth quarter of this year.
HPFS Partner Connection, also branded as HP Financial Services, gives SMBs the ability to pay for these solution bundles with a monthly subscription-based model. Instead of putting down a lump sum, SMBs can sign up for a contract and just return or upgrade their equipment once the contract has expired. That makes it easier for them to upgrade when necessary, instead of having to use older equipment they’ve paid for directly.
The HPFS Partner Connection is available to SMBs online, giving them quick data on quotes and approvals. It will be available in Canada in June.