Hewlett-Packard Co. and America Online formed an alliance to bring
enhanced printing and e-commerce solutions to various AOL brands.
The companies said they are collaborating on several online areas to provide
greater ease-of-use, better output and additional print-related options for
consumers.
Financial terms of the arrangement were not disclosed. HP-branded and
co-branded components are expected to include the following:
- A print center within the Computing Channel of AOL, CompuServe and
Netscape Netcenter that will allow users to explore new printing projects
using their PCs - Print buttons to make printing easier and more intuitive are expected to
be added to both AOL and CompuServe, providing users with the ability to
easily print e-mail, AOL My Calendar pages, Address Book data, and general
Web pages in the format they prefer. - Customized content publishing to allow users to create customized print
jobs of select Web sites in a “personalized newspaper” format - Low-ink notification/quick purchase, designed to notify users of certain
future HP printers when the ink cartridge or toner is low, and allow them to
purchase these accessories easily using AOL’s Quick Checkout purchasing
option - Commercial printing for larger or more complex printing projects, allowing
users to send out print jobs directly to participating commercial-printing
companies that are HP service providers
Under the agreement, HP also will become an anchor tenant in Shop @AOL. Users
will have direct access from the “Printers & Accessories” department of Shop@
AOL to the HP Shopping Village, where they will be
able to purchase HP printers, ink and related accessories
Users also will be able to access the HP Shopping Village from the AOL, Netscape Netcenter or
CompuServe Print Center.
The companies also will engage in joint marketing efforts.
“This agreement represents tremendous opportunity from a business and
branding standpoint for both HP and for AOL,” said Antonio Perez, president
of HP’s Consumer Business and Digital Media Solutions.
“Through AOL, HP will significantly expand our consumer reach. Moreover, the agreement supports
HP’s goal to be a catalyst in transforming the Web from something consumers
work with to something that works for consumers.”
