ANTenna Blog -- Hardware & Software

HP's latest offering for small businesses bolsters a broadening portfolio of SMB solutions that make cost containment a top priority.

With National Small Business Week focusing attention on SMBs, HP took the opportunity to introduce two new printers and a support program specifically targeted to the needs of cost-conscious small businesses. These are merely the latest wave of new offerings from HP targeting the small and midsize business market.

HP Officejet 6000 Printer

In a statement about the announcement, Stacey Wueste (who joined a panel on technology at National Small Business Week), vice president, Worldwide Small and Medium Business Segment, Imaging and Printing Group, said, "HP is a true technology partner to its customers, helping them manage, protect and grow their businesses every step of the way. Recognizing that small businesses are under more pressure than ever to save time and money, we are introducing new products and services to help them operate efficiently and reduce their printing costs without sacrificing quality."

The new printers are the HP Officejet 6000 Printer series ($89-$119) and the HP Officejet 7000 Wide Format Printer ($229). Both will be available this summer. So how does buying new printers save money? The concept at play is reducing cost to operate. Specifically, the comes in a variety of ways, including automatic double-sided printing, Energy Star ratings, smart Web printing, and in the case of the wide-format printer, the ability to print marketing collateral on demand.

HP Officejet 7000 Wide Format Printer

On the support side, HP also introduced expanded Total Care programs specifically for printers. The 2-4 year agreements start at $30 per printer (and range up to $170) and offer North America-based support agents and options such as next day business exchange. All with a focus on getting SMBs back to work rather than spending time troubleshooting their printers. Though at the high end, the cost of support could rank near the cost of the printer itself.

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