HP enhances IT and DAT services
HP enhances IT and DAT services
HP has announced plans to buy UK based Synstar, the provider of services to manage the IT infrastructure and improve business availability over desktop configuration and data centres.
HP is intending to acquire this company for US$297 million cash in an attempt to compete with IBM's growing Global Services division.
Synstar has 1,500 customers with a presence in eight European countries. In addition, it also designs and implements IT risk management strategies.
HP also recently bought FH Computer Services, which is a UK based software management and licensing company. This was bought to boost HP's services decision.
In addition, HP has made a promise to provide its backing to the storage industry back-up format Digital Audio Tape (DAT) in combination with back-up partner Certance.
6 milllion small and medium businesses rely on DAT for backup services just in case disks fail and HP is aiming to provide better services to these businesses.
Gartner research has revealed that nearly half of the tapes sold in 2003 were DDS/DAT tapes.
HP and Certance aim to bring out new products, which will include 600 GB compressed capacities and transfer rates of 32 MB per second to cope with new data storage requirements imposed by government regulations.
These new products will also be compatible with past tapes. This ambition by HP highlights how important it still considers tape for protecting information.
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