When Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE:HPQ) acquired Electronic Data Systems Corp. for $13.9 billion last year, it inherited an existing relationship with Research In Motion Ltd. (NASDAQ:RIMM). You see, prior to the August 2008 deal, EDS managed through its mobile workplace services business the BlackBerry accounts of about 500,000 spartphone users.
On Monday, HP expanded the RIM relationship with a new strategic alliance. Under terms of the deal, HP and RIM will team up to develop products that boost the capabilities of RIM's BlackBerry smartphones. The
alliance will result in applications that allow BlackBerry users to print e-mails, documents, photos and Web pages; and software that will monitor and manage multiple BlackBerry solutions.
HP acquired EDS to give it
a stronger presence in business services. The expanded relationship with RIM is a sign that the acquisition has delivered R&D opportunities as well.
- Suzanne Stevens
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