Vendor News

Work-From-Home Hardware from HP

2020-05-28T15:43:02Z

More than ever, the workforce needs technology and tools to stay productive, HP says as it launches a range of additions to the Personal Systems portfolio, including mobile workstations, desktop Elite PCs and "ergonomic" monitors.

“As we experience a new normal that blurs reality between life and work, it’s clear that the PC is essential-- allowing us to work, live, learn, collaborate, and create regardless of distance,” the company says. “Today’s line-up of innovative products, our largest commercial product launch ever, including the next generation of Elite PCs and desktops, the world’s first ergonomic monitors with always-on low blue-light, and the world’s brightest 14-inch mobile workstation, along with dedicated services to improve remote employee experiences, reinforces HP’s commitment to equipping workers with the right tools, power, and performance for the ultimate work from home experience.”

SMB Additions in Cisco Designed Portfolio

2020-05-28T15:29:00Z

Cisco announces additions to the Cisco Designed portfolio aimed at helping SMB customers deal with the current coronavirus pandemic, with solutions helping with work from home, security and always-on business.

The first of such solutions is Webex Work, a complete cloud collaboration solution bringing together calling, meeting and messaging services in a single subscription. Cisco says pricing is competitive for small businesses, and such tools allow employees to remain connected while ensuring work moves forward. Meanwhile a new version of Cisco Business Dashboard offers network management through a streamlined user interface and zero-touch plug and play deployment, with hosting in either the cloud or on premises.

Intel Names 2030 Global Challenges

2020-05-20T16:32:30Z

Intel releases the annual Corporate Responsibility Report-- one defining the global challenges for the company, expanding its commitment in resources, expertise, global reach and influence beyond own operations.

“The world is facing challenges that we understand better each day as we collect and analyze more data, but they go unchecked without a collective response-- from climate change to deep digital divides around the world to the current pandemic that has fundamentally changed all our lives,” CEO Bob Swan says. “We can solve them, but only by working together.”

HPE Reshuffles for a Post-Coronavirus World

2020-05-14T15:45:30Z

A blogpost by CEO Antonio Neri details a reshuffle of the HPE organisation-- one cementing the current pivot from hardware to services, leading to what Neri describes as a more agile company for the post-coronavirus pandemic world.

"Over recent weeks, I have evaluated our organisational structure to determine the model that will best enable our execution and transformation," Neri writes. "The time is right for an organisation where each one of our business groups, aligned to market trends and our own financial segmentation, directly reports to me."

Nvidia Buys Hyperscale Networking With Cumulus

2020-05-07T15:53:47Z

Nvidia announces the acquisition of Cumulus Networks, an open-source networking specialist behind an own Linux distribution for network switches, network management tools and even an own datacentre switch.

The financial details of the deal are not available, but considering Cumulus funding totals $134 million since 2010 one can safely assume hefty sum was involved.

Intel Beats Expectations in Q1 2020

2020-04-29T16:29:53Z

Intel reports strong performance for Q1 2020, with revenues reaching $19.8 billion, a 23% Y-o-Y increase-- results the company says demonstrate the technology industry is "more essential now than it has ever been."

Chipzilla profits total $5.7bn, a 43% Y-o-Y increase, while gross margins reach 60.6%. Driving such results is the Datacentre Group (DCG), with revenues growing by 43% Y-o-Y to $7bn. The memory business emerges as a surprise champion, with 46% Y-o-Y growth on $1.3bn in revenues, while ADAS adoption leads to a record quarter for the Mobileye business. The rest of the Intel IoT business does see a -3% Y-o-Y drop in revenue, however.

Dell Extends $9bn in Financing

2020-04-24T09:42:10Z

Dell joins the likes of HPE and Cisco with the offer of $9 billion in financing for partners and customers to fund technology needs, together with a Payment Flexibility Program with 0% interest rates and a 108-day payment deferral.

Through the program, customers can get 0% interest rates on purchases of severs, storage and networking hardware, with no up-front payment requirement. In addition, they can defer the first payment on datacentre infrastructure and services for up to 180 days, allowing customers to manage cash flow. Dell also offers short term options for remote work and learning, with 6-12 month terms and refresh options for laptops and desktops.

Cisco Financing for Customers and Partners

2020-04-16T15:11:41Z

Cisco commits to helping customers and partners mitigate the financial challenges brought about by current pandemic with the introduction of a Business Resilience Program offering $2.5 billion in financing.

The Business Resilience Program includes an up-front 90-day payment holiday, and allows customers to defer 95% of the cost of a new product or solution until 2021, protecting business and increasing cash flow. Customers start making monthly payments from January 2021, as based on the total financed amount and the remaining term of the financing. All Cisco solutions are eligible for the program, including hardware, software and services, as well as up to 5% of partner provided services such as installation.

An Intel Fund to Combat Coronavirus

2020-04-10T12:23:39Z

Intel pledges $50 million in an initiative to fight the coronavirus (aka Covid-19) through a fund designed to accelerate access to technology at the point of patient care, speeding scientific research and ensuring online learning access for students.

The funds involves an additional fund for requests where access to Intel expertise and resources can have immediate impact, and come in addition to a prior announcement of $10 million in donation to local communities. Around $40 million will fund Response and Readiness and Online Learning initiatives. The Response and readiness initiative provides funding for advances in diagnosis, treatment and vaccine development, while the Online Learning initiative supports education-focused nonprofit organisations and partners provide students without access to technology with devices and online learning resources.

HPE Offers $2 Billion in Financial Aid

2020-04-10T12:19:57Z

HP Enterprise (HPE) designates over $2 billion in financing to help customers and partners to face the challenges brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, including cash-flow or liquidity issues.

The financial services wing of the company also has a number of initiatives, including a Payment Relief Program to help customers acquire new technology and alleviate some financial strain. The $2n fund, HPE says, will help customers ensure business continuity and adapt to the current environment by addressing new technology financing needs, and convert infrastructure to new sources of capital. In addition, customers can acquire technology by paying just 1% of the total contract value each month for the first 8 months, deferring over 90% of the cost until 2021. From 2021, each monthly payment is approximately around 3.3% of total contract value.