HP courted Apple, now in talks with Google for 'Enterprise Siri' to boost corporate sales
As it looks to rebound after years of slumping performance, old-guard Silicon Valley firm Hewlett-Packard reportedly held talks with relative newcomers Apple and Google in recent months to create a new type of "Enterprise Siri" system that would allow its corporate customers to search their document and data troves using their voice.
While talks with Google continue to plod along, Apple is said to have broken off discussions --?which were to include a "broader partnership" -- following the consummation of its landmark enterprise agreement with HP archrival IBM. Word of the negotiations was reported by Amir Efrati and Jessica Lessin of The Information.
Google is looking to expand the reach of Google Now, its own voice-activated search system. The company has faced unsure footing as it pitches enterprise clients thanks to Google Now's lack of integration with third-party systems, something HP might be able to help with.
HP, meanwhile, has also sought Google's help in building enterprise-friendly mobile phones based on Android. The Palo Alto, Calif.-based company is said to have pitched an enterprise-focused "Nexus" handset and new, military-specification encryption hardware but was rebuffed by former Android boss Andy Rubin.
With no agreement in place with either Apple or Google, HP is believed to have turned to longtime partner Microsoft for help in building its new voice search product. The companies will likely look to integrate voice recognition technology from Nuance, which also powers Siri, and data warehousing and management solutions from HP units Vertica and Autonomy.
HP and Apple share a long history together. Late Apple CEO Steve Jobs was given a summer internship as a teenager by legendary HP cofounder Bill Hewlett, and Apple's new "spaceship" headquarters will sit on land that previously served as HP's corporate campus.
While talks with Google continue to plod along, Apple is said to have broken off discussions --?which were to include a "broader partnership" -- following the consummation of its landmark enterprise agreement with HP archrival IBM. Word of the negotiations was reported by Amir Efrati and Jessica Lessin of The Information.
Google is looking to expand the reach of Google Now, its own voice-activated search system. The company has faced unsure footing as it pitches enterprise clients thanks to Google Now's lack of integration with third-party systems, something HP might be able to help with.
HP, meanwhile, has also sought Google's help in building enterprise-friendly mobile phones based on Android. The Palo Alto, Calif.-based company is said to have pitched an enterprise-focused "Nexus" handset and new, military-specification encryption hardware but was rebuffed by former Android boss Andy Rubin.
With no agreement in place with either Apple or Google, HP is believed to have turned to longtime partner Microsoft for help in building its new voice search product. The companies will likely look to integrate voice recognition technology from Nuance, which also powers Siri, and data warehousing and management solutions from HP units Vertica and Autonomy.
HP and Apple share a long history together. Late Apple CEO Steve Jobs was given a summer internship as a teenager by legendary HP cofounder Bill Hewlett, and Apple's new "spaceship" headquarters will sit on land that previously served as HP's corporate campus.
Comments
I remember when HP was considered one of the very best places to work in Silicon Valley. Their managers practiced "management by walking around," they had great benefits, they had one of the first campus-like headquarters, and all that.
But no, I never heard of any super-good HP products. Aside from their RPN calculators and scientific / medical equipment. Their software just never made much of an impression, and apparently that's still true.
http://www.crn.com/news/mobility/300073401/hp-launches-new-unit-teams-with-microsoft-intel-on-business-mobility.htm
Someone at HP wants to give the search giant, Google, access to all HP enterprise level documents? What well thought out plan!
Have any here actually tried to solve a problem using their web site? It's a real shame.
Have any here actually tried to solve a problem using their web site? It's a real shame.
Not even trying to solve a problem, but just find information. It's horrid.
I remember when HP was considered one of the very best places to work in Silicon Valley. Their managers practiced "management by walking around," they had great benefits, they had one of the first campus-like headquarters, and all that.
But no, I never heard of any super-good HP products. Aside from their RPN calculators and scientific / medical equipment. Their software just never made much of an impression, and apparently that's still true.
I think there is something that happens to a company when it decides to court enterprises. They get very entrenched making these monolithic, convoluted solutions to what are essentially very boring, though necessary, problems. You have to maintain insane levels of backwards compatibility to what may have been bad ideas at the time (or at least proven to be later) and any drastic changes to architecture, support or even simple features risk alienating you customers and losing revenue. So basically you stick with what works and don't venture too far from that formula.
When you are a company like HP it's very hard to set aside the R&D to do something different because you don't have anyone that thinks like that in the company, your current customers aren't asking for it and breaking into new markets is a moonshot that nobody on the board wants to risk. HP had an great opportunity with Palm, but got motion sickness on the first go-round and couldn't stomach the risk so they bailed.
When a company does that over and over again they have a hard time attracting talent, customers become weary of adopting first versions of new tech and the cycle repeats. If a guy has a choice between making 120K a year fidgeting with enterprise databases or 120K a year doing something cool and innovative, he's going to go where he's comfortable and until HP (and others like them) change their image they will just be nuts and bots, interchangeable, enterprise hardware and software guys.
I have a HP copy/fax/printer/scanner which is surprisingly remarkable.
For purely sentimental reasons I miss The Shark Tank (aka "San Jose Arena") being known as HP Pavilion (the name for which San Jose Arena was known for nearly a decade).
HP had some exciting spinoffs in the medical field but those products have since (apparently) been ruined by the new owners.
Few people were as excited as I when HP had the vision to purchase Palm and began to tout WebOS as a distinct advantage they would leverage. Alas ...
From last month, an article on HP and MS expanding their working partnership to business mobility solutions.
http://www.crn.com/news/mobility/300073401/hp-launches-new-unit-teams-with-microsoft-intel-on-business-mobility.htm
It's a lot easier to "talk a good story," i.e., "consulting," than it is to design and build great category leading products. That's what IBM and now HP are doing. Consultants are brought in when executive management can't cut it... IMHO
I think there is something that happens to a company when it decides to court enterprises. They get very entrenched making these monolithic, convoluted solutions to what are essentially very boring, though necessary, problems. You have to maintain insane levels of backwards compatibility to what may have been bad ideas at the time (or at least proven to be later) and any drastic changes to architecture, support or even simple features risk alienating you customers and losing revenue. So basically you stick with what works and don't venture too far from that formula.
When you are a company like HP it's very hard to set aside the R&D to do something different because you don't have anyone that thinks like that in the company, your current customers aren't asking for it and breaking into new markets is a moonshot that nobody on the board wants to risk. HP had an great opportunity with Palm, but got motion sickness on the first go-round and couldn't stomach the risk so they bailed.
When a company does that over and over again they have a hard time attracting talent, customers become weary of adopting first versions of new tech and the cycle repeats. If a guy has a choice between making 120K a year fidgeting with enterprise databases or 120K a year doing something cool and innovative, he's going to go where he's comfortable and until HP (and others like them) change their image they will just be nuts and bots, interchangeable, enterprise hardware and software guys.
Seems to me like you just listed both ends of the extremes: Companies that "maintain insane levels of backwards compatibility" and companies that end support for things at the drop of a hat.
For purely sentimental reasons I miss The Shark Tank (aka "San Jose Arena") being known as HP Pavilion
The most clever name for an arena EVER.
Okay, the ONLY clever name for an arena, ever.
With no agreement in place with either Apple or Google, HP is believed to have turned to longtime partner Microsoft for help in building its new voice search product. The companies will likely look to integrate voice recognition technology from Nuance, which also powers Siri, and data warehousing and management solutions from HP units Vertica and Autonomy.
I find it highly unlikely that MS would look to Nuance for voice recognition - since they have their own solution.
http://www.agilent.com/cs/ContentServer?c=Page&pagename=Sapphire/Page/HomePage
IBM is the better coupling in this partnership, hands down.
The whole site needs an overhaul, doesn't it? Maybe they should say goodbye to Huddler.
While talks with Google continue to plod along, Apple is said to have broken off discussions -- which were to include a "broader partnership" -- following the consummation of its landmark enterprise agreement with HP archrival IBM.
Apple + IBM to HP: "Cool idea! We'll include it as one of the many useful features in our pending joint venture. Now scoot along!"
So are you really confused about this or are you purposely being obtuse?