Toshiba Announces Elite Partnership with Hewlett-Packard

It's official.

One more arrow in the Toshiba MPS quiver, this alliance let's Toshiba dealers sell HP laser printers directly to customers.

This should fill some of the A4 gaps in TABS hardware line. And HP opens another channel for it's IPG.

I wonder if Toshiba will maintain MPS agreements with genuine HP toner or it's Encompass brand?

And I wonder if now all Toshiba dealers will be sending technicians to the HP site for laser training?

The complete press release:


New Agreement Enables Toshiba to Sell HP Laser Jet Printers Direct to Customers
IRVINE, Calif.--(Business Wire)--

Toshiba America Business Solutions Inc. (TABS) today announced a strategic agreement with Hewlett-Packard (HP) that allows Toshiba to sell HP`s laser jet product line to customers. This agreement expands and strengthens Toshiba`s overall product offering while also meeting the needs of HP-loyal customers.

Toshiba`s elite partnership benefits both dealers and their customers, with dealers receiving pricing discounts that translate to cost savings for the customer. Additionally, access to HP`s line of laser jet products allows dealers to further strengthen their Managed Print Services (MPS) program offerings for customers who already have HP as their single-function printer provider.

"Hewlett-Packard is without question the preferred printer provider for a large
number of the companies we do business with, and by bringing HP to the table
along-side Toshiba`s line of award-winning multifunction products, Toshiba has
succeeded in establishing a competitive advantage that will have a significant
and positive impact on our dealers` ability to succeed in this competitive
market,"

said Mark Mathews, president and chief operating officer, TABS.

Managed Print Services

This agreement extends the benefits of Toshiba's MPS, which helps dealers develop additional revenue streams while simultaneously helping customers decrease inefficiencies and reduce costs. The program helps dealers reduce and sometimes eliminate the need for new equipment while simplifying service contracts and decreasing imaging consumable costs.

With its elite partnership with HP, Toshiba can now provide dealers with more options for their customers in both the areas of service and product offerings. The HP laser jet line will be available through dealers to all Toshiba customers, not just those utilizing the Managed Print Services program.

About Toshiba America Business Solutions Inc.

Toshiba America Business Solutions Inc. (TABS) manages product planning, marketing, sales, service support and distribution of copiers, facsimiles, multifunction printing products, network controllers, and toner products throughout the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., TABS has five divisions: the Electronic Imaging Division; the Toner Products Division; the Document Solutions Engineering Division; the International Division; and TOPAC U.S.A., Inc., dba Toshiba Business Solutions (TBS), a wholly-owned subsidiary corporation of TABS, that operates a network of wholly-owned office equipment dealers throughout the United States.

Rueters

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