Hewlett-Packard`s eight-way Intel-based servers are to powerhouse mission-critical applications at numerous South African Government departments, following Hewlett-Packard SA`s preferred supplier success in part of the Government`s R300 - R500-million IT tender.
HP SA, in a contract expected to be worth more than R100-million to the company over the next two years, has also been awarded preferred supplier status for mid-range servers, ultra-thin notebooks and the palmtop PDAs in the Government`s RT222 tender.
The award is the second major government contract the company has secured since its return to South Africa two-and-a-half years ago. HP SA supplied the total IT infrastructure to the IEC (Independent Electoral Commission) for the 1999 General Election.
"These contracts illustrate that HP not only has the right technology, product quality and pricing, but also understands Government business and is able to deliver on its needs," says Darryl Brick, National Sales Manager, HP SA.
"They also acknowledge that HP and its business partners have adhered to Government requirements for black empowerment and industrial participation as well as the fact that, because of the breadth of the products involved, HP is a total IT company - from the palm top to the mission critical."
Under HP`s reseller channel distribution policy, the HP LX R8500 and HP LH 6000 servers and the HP OmniBook 900 slimline notebooks are to be supplied by Datacentrix, while Siltek Distribution Dynamics will supply the HP Jornada palmtop devices via the channel.
"From a technology stand-point, our success in these categories is based on several factors," says Thabo Molefe, Government Account Manager, HP SA.
"HP`s expertise in mission-critical servers goes back two decades, while a key point in our success in the mid-range sector is that we are able to offer a six-way server option for the same price as a four-way system. Our hand-held and mobile technology goes back to our calculator and instrumentation roots.
The RT222 tender comprised 20 categories covering four server sections, four PC desktop sections, one of which was cancelled, five notebook sections, PDAs and monitors. The whole tender process has taken more than 12 months to complete.
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