Outsourcing has clearly gone to Hewlett-Packard Co’s head as the company yesterday announced a new division to sell outsourced infrastructure services on top of the storage deal it struck with partner Qwest Communications Inc (see separate story). HP installed Frank Barker as general manager of the computing utility services division.
Although it is trying not to step on the toes of partners that use HP kit as the basis of ASP and ISP services, HP’s plan is to lease Unix and Windows NT system infrastructure services on a pay-per-use basis. That will include applications, databases, IP infrastructure and IP communications and other programs integrated with other hardware from partners including Cisco Systems, Equant, Microsoft and Nortel. HP says that ASPs, ISPs and other services providers will be able to use the utilities to avoid their own fixed costs.
