HP eyeing the consumer segment

Not satisfied with taking on IBM, Sun and Dell, the revitalized HP is all set to tread into new waters and insists on making a splash. After presenting itself as a stronger player post merger to the enterprise and small and medium business market, HP’s next focus is on the consumer market. This pits HP against new rivals like Apple, Sony, Canon, Palm and it looks all set to take on the Asian giants like LG and Samsung as well.

Mention this change in focus and you get a vehement denial stating, “We have always been in the consumer business. PCs and printers are targeted at them. It is our bread and butter,” from a senior VP of the company. 

Perceptions differ. Take HP’s annual product roll out event pegged ‘Big Bang II’ this year in Bangkok, Thailand. It was one imposing jamboree of digital products all set to pamper the consumers beyond mere PCs and printers.

A plethora of products, 89 to be precise, were lined up for HP’s Big Bang-II in Asia. While hand picking from a clutch of 150 new products launched in the US last month, HP in Asia is all set to emerge as a consumer company too.

Ranjeet Rayen

(CNS)