Hewlett-Packard (HP) chief executive Léo Apotheker has said that the company would expand its software business into cloud computing.
HP already does business in cloud computing for big businesses, but Apotheker said it would also provide cloud computing services to the general public and smaller companies. It will take it in to competiton with the likes of Amazon, Google and Microsoft.
"Yes, HP is strong, but we also recognise that the world around us is changing faster than ever," Apotheker said at an event in San Francisco.
Apotheker plans to use the company’s existing relationships with businesses to sell software and host their data for them to access from anywhere.
Apotheker said the software division would concentrate on security software and business analytics. Apotheker also said that instead of cost-cutting, he plans to invest more in HP’s R&D programs and revealed that the company was increasing its dividend by 50%. This is the first hike in 13 years.
He said the company plans to have a HP store and would work with companies with "app stores" to sell applications.
Apotheker joined HP in October last year as a replacement for the ousted Mark Hurd, who left after an allegation of sexual harassment and falsifying expenses came to light. Hurd has since joined Oracle.
