HP and Microsoft jointly launch an OEM Channel Program

Published January 14th, 2007 - 12:40 GMT
Al Bawaba
Al Bawaba

HP and Microsoft announced today the launch of an OEM  Channel program for the Middle East region as part of the worldwide agreement between the two companies which has been allowing the availability of Microsoft Server Operating Systems and OS Licenses as part of the HP product portfolio.
Ryan D’souza, Product Manager, Industry Standard Servers, HP Middle East, said: “This unique partnership that took place between HP and Microsoft several years ago is very important as we are offering a one-stop shop for all hardware and operating system purchases. Today we are launching the Channel Program that we believe will add value to our customers in terms of customer support and special pricing policies. This will simplify the lives of our customers remarkably.”
Demonstrating its commitment to the region, the newly launched Channel Program offers customers 90-day phone based installation support from HP for OEM Software purchased.
“Our partnership with HP is one of the oldest of its kind in the industry with 20 years of combined marketplace leadership. Through our alignment, customers expect the same reliability, innovation and expertise that Microsoft has been providing to customers all over the world,” said Tolga Altinordu, OEM Director, Microsoft Gulf, “We are jointly launching today with HP this innovative Channel program based on HP’s ability to deliver our solutions into its wide array of hardware products with its strong channel presence and reach in the region.”
The Microsoft OEM products that  are part of the overall HP product portfolio include: Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard Edition, Microsoft Small Business Server 2003 R2 Standard Edition, and Microsoft Small Business Server 2003 R2 Premium Edition.
Customers in the Middle East region can continue to work with their preferred hardware partners and now have the added advantage of requesting and procuring the operating system as well.
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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, 2006, HP revenue totaled $91.7 billion. More information about HP (NYSE, Nasdaq: HPQ) is available at www.hp.com.
About HP Middle East

HP is the largest technology and solutions provider in the Middle East with 670 employees and subsidiaries in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Jeddah, Khobar, Cairo,  Ramallah and Oman servicing the GCC, Egypt and the Levant. HP has been present in the Middle East since 1968 and opened its first regional office in 1994. HP Middle East is the market leader for enterprise, small and medium business and consumer technology products and offers a large portfolio of solutions and services in various business domains.
More information about HP in the Middle East is available at www.hp.com/me
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software - any time, any place and on any device.
Microsoft opened its Dubai-based Middle East office in 1991. Microsoft today has four subsidiaries in the Middle East region: Microsoft Gulf which oversees Microsoft activities in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Oman, Yemen and Pakistan, Microsoft Arabia covering the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Microsoft East Med covering, Lebanon, Jordan, Cyprus and Malta and Microsoft Egypt.
Microsoft Corporation's address on the World Wide Web is: www.microsoft.com
Microsoft Middle East's Web site is: www.microsoft.com/middleeast
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12/2006