Hewlett-Packard Company, commonly referred to as HP, is a consumer electronics corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, California, USA. HP is the world's largest technology company and operates in nearly every country. HP specializes in developing and manufacturing computing, storage, and networking hardware, software and services. Major product lines include personal computing devices, enterprise servers, related storage devices, as well as a diverse range of printers and other imaging products. HP markets its products to households, small to medium size businesses and enterprises both directly, via online distribution, consumer-electronics and office-supply retailers, software partners and major technology vendors.
Products and organizational structure
HP has successful lines of printers, scanners, digital cameras, calculators, PDAs, servers, workstation computers, and computers for home and small business use computers; many of the computers came from the 2002 merger with Compaq. HP today promotes itself as supplying not just hardware and software, but also a full range of services to design, implement, and support IT infrastructure.
HP's Imaging and Printing Group (IPG) is "the leading imaging and printing systems provider in the world for printer hardware, printing supplies and scanning devices, providing solutions across customer segments from individual consumers to small and medium businesses to large enterprises." Products and technology associated with IPG include Inkjet and LaserJet printers, consumables and related products, Officejet all-in-one multifunction printer/scanner/faxes, Large Format Printers, Indigo Digital Press, HP Web Jetadmin printer management software, HP Output Management suite of software, LightScribe optical recording technology, HP Photosmart digital cameras and photo printers, HP SPaM, and Snapfish by HP, a photo sharing and photo products service. On December 23, 2008, HP releases iPrint Photo for iPhone a free downloadable software application that allows to print 4" x 6" photos.
HP's Personal Systems Group (PSG) claims to be "one of the leading vendors of personal computers ("PCs") in the world based on unit volume shipped and annual revenue." PSG includes business PCs and accessories, consumer PCs and accessories, (e.g., HP Pavilion, Compaq Presario, VoodooPC), handheld computing (e.g., iPAQ Pocket PC), and digital "connected" entertainment (e.g., HP MediaSmart TVs, HP MediaSmart Servers, HP MediaVaults, DVD+RW drives). HP resold the Apple iPod until November 2005.
HP Enterprise Business (EB) incorporates Technical services, Enterprise Services (formerly known as EDS), HP Software & Solutions, and Enterprise Storage and Networking Group (ESN). The Enterprise Storage and Servers Group (ESS) oversees "back end" products. like storage and servers.
HP Software & Solutions is the company's enterprise software division. For years, HP has produced and marketed its brand of enterprise management software, HP OpenView. HP has purchased a total of 12 software companies as part of a publicized, deliberate strategy to augment its software offerings for large business customers. The division markets its software in four categories: business technology optimization software, information management software, business intelligence solutions, and communications and media software and solutions.
HP's networking business unit ProCurve is responsible for the family of network switches, wireless access points, and routers. They are currently a Business Unit of ESN.
