HP has 'no plans to break up,' Whitman claims

Computerworld - Struggling Hewlett-Packard has taken several steps this year to assure users and investors that it's working to put past distractions behind it while bolstering its full product line.

In an earnings call last month, CEO Meg Whitman dismissed persistent rumors of plans to sell off parts of the company. "We have no plans to break up," she said.

She argued that PCs and other desktop devices are still key pieces of enterprise computing, HP's strength, and contended that it's important for the company to maintain its expertise in those technologies.

Whitman acknowledged that "it's going to take time to get back on track," but touted new HP hardware technology and its "multiple operating systems" designed for enterprise use.

HP used the Mobile World Congress stage to announce the latest move in its effort to bolster its PC unit -- the introduction of the Slate 7 tablet. A 7-in. Android-based device that features dual cameras and a micro-SD card slot, the Slate 7 sells for $169.

Separately, HP announced "Project Moonshot," an effort to design low-power server technologies that, if successful, could enable data centers to use 89% less energy than they would with traditional x86 servers.

Still, HP faces a difficult task. It has reported declining profits and revenue for six quarters, as it continues to try to rebound from a period of turmoil that saw two leadership changes within a year and a botched plan to spin off its PC division.

This version of this story was originally published in Computerworld's print edition. It was adapted from two articles that appeared earlier on Computerworld.com: "HP Says More Tablets Coming as It Puts Bad Past Behind" and "HP's Whitman Says 'No Plans to Break Up the Company.'"

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