HP and Alcatel in voice link-up

Firms to offer converged office package to SMEs

Hewlett Packard is working with Alcatel and telecoms operators to target SMEs with Ready Office, a converged office package, offered as a managed service.

While the product has been confirmed for France only, sources familiar with the program said they expect the offering to roll out in the UK.

Ready Office, part of HP's Smart Office initiative, allows SMEs to integrate voice, data and internet technologies from PCs and servers, to software, network access, voice, data and multimedia services.

Ready Office will be offered on a pay-per-use model, with France Telecom being the first telco to sign up as a partner.

"The program is an extension of HP's Smart Office initiative. It is a converged office in a box, wrapped up in a managed service," said Carly Fiorina, HP's chief executive, at ITU Telecom World 2003 in Geneva.

"SMEs are willing to take risks on themselves, but not on their technology. Ready Office delivers more expertise and reliability. The service is delivered in a pay-as-you-go, pay-as-you-use package."

David Smith, HP's UK and Eire SMB manager, said: "Ready Office is a great illustration of some of the programs to come out of the Smart Office initiative.

It is currently not available in the UK, but we will be looking into implementing a similar solution."

But Ian French, president of distributor Bell Microproducts Europe, questioned whether the channel was ready for Ready Office.

"HP is looking at a range of alliance initiatives around convergence. It'll be interesting to see how it takes these ideas to market," he said.