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HP has bolstered its relationship with Google by signing a new deal to sell products loaded with the search giant’s apps.
Announcing the HP SMB IT in a Box initiative at the HP Discover conference in Las Vegas, the firm went on to reveal it would be entering the Google Apps Reseller program.
The new deal builds on the already existing relationship between HP and Google, with the PC maker selling a number of Google branded products, such as the HP Slate Android tablet and HP Pavilion Chromebook.
"We’re combining HP’s PCs, workstations, printers and servers to Google Apps for business," said HP head, Meg Whitman, during her keynote speech at the event.
"This breakthrough – it isn’t a one-off. We’re going to look for ways to partner with like-minded tech companies."
However, the announcement is likely going to hinder the long-standing relationship between itself and another of its partners: Microsoft.
HP and Microsoft have previously had a tight-knit relationship, in part to the lathers Windows platform and Office software suite. However, since the release of Windows 8, the relationship appears to have distanced somewhat – further emphasised by this new deal with rival Google.
The HP SMB IT in a Box program will now see a wide range of HP products and services combined with Google Apps.
Whilst set to launch in the US in July, the program will extend worldwide before the end of the year
