Let's keep technology simple: HP boss
by Ho Ka Wei

HEWLETT-PACKARD chief Carly Fiorina flew into town on Monday to meet business partners, and yesterday delivered her company's vision of what is to come to 600 industry leaders.

A few hours later, she was gone.

But her 45-minute message stuck, because it gave her take on the challenges facing technology companies.

Ms Fiorina, 47, HP's chairman and chief executive, had a blunt message: 'Technology that technology companies sell is still too complicated.'

She said that it is 'crystal clear that for technology to achieve its full potential in business, in society, in our homes, and in our lives', simplicity is needed.

She added that two other areas needed attention as well - security technology and rich digital content.

Her solution to the challenges? Innovate, innovate, innovate - even when times are tough.

She offered her company as an example of this.

HP, she said, spends US$4 billion (S$6.8 billion) a year on research and development targeted at areas where 'we can make a unique contribution and lead'.

This has resulted in 11 patents a day from its scientists and engineers, up from three a day just two years ago.

HP's efforts at innovation are not restricted within the company, or just in the United States.

It is also tapping talent in this region.

Last September, for instance, it started a joint venture with Oracle, called Partners Innovative Technology and Solution Centre, or Pitstop, to set up facilities in South-east Asia for software development companies here and in the region to work from.

The latest collaboration could be in the area of grid and utility computing, where computer resources can be shared and used when needed, possibly on a nation-wide basis.

Singapore is involved in this partnership as well.

Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) of Singapore chief Tan Ching Yee said that her agency is in 'close discussion' with HP to test and showcase the benefits of such computing.

HP has a long history of partnerships with Singapore. Since setting up shop here in 1970, it has grown to become the sixth-largest company in Singapore, with more than 6,000 employees.

It has also participated in other IDA-driven initiatives in the wireless arena and in the area of Web services.

Ms Fiorina, who was speaking here as the latest guest in the IDA's Distinguished Infocomm Speaker series, added that partnerships such as those with Singapore are vital and provide both sides with benefits.

She said: 'We all have a stake in each other's success. Singapore is America's 10th largest trading partner, while America is Singapore's No. 1 foreign investor.

'Whether we like it or not, we are dependent on each other's success.'

In her speech, Ms Fiorina also gave a nod to Singapore's success, telling her audience more than once that their roles should be reversed.

She said that because of their wealth of experience in innovation, she should be listening to them give a speech instead.

She also tied HP's mission statement - Everything Is Possible - to what has happened here.

[Source: Straits Times, 11 March 04, Thursday]