World's first HP Experience store opens in South Africa

Issued by KCMC for HP
Johannesburg, 12 May 2008

HP, in partnership with Digital Planet, has announced the official opening of the HP Experience store in Sandton City. HP Experience is the first concept retail store of its kind in the world.

Operated and owned by Digital Planet, the store will sell HP's entire portfolio of consumer offerings - from personal computing to imaging and printing products. In addition, consumers will have an opportunity to view and experience the latest HP technology in the store.

"The store is organised around experiences and solutions, not products. We want to provide consumers with an opportunity to interact with the latest HP technology," said Neil Watson, director and co-founder of Digital Planet.

HP Experience consists of various digital lifestyle zones, including a Guru Bar, where trained HP experts provide consumers with in-depth information, assistance and education as part of their shopping experience.

Great in-store experience

According to Paul Boshoff, General Manager of HP's Personal Systems Group, the store meets consumers' demands of an engaging experience, quality products that perform and solutions that meet their needs.

"We are very excited about the opening of the first HP Experience store and confident that it will pave the way for consumers to further embrace the digital entertainment evolution," added Boshoff.

HP's commitment to the South African market has been further strengthened by its co-investment in HP Experience. The HP brand is growing from strength to strength in South Africa and as the first multinational IT vendor to achieve a level two contributor status to broad-based black economic empowerment (B-BBEE), HP is in a position to further grow its share of the local personal computing market.

HP focuses on simplifying technology experiences for all of its customers - from individual consumers to the largest businesses. With a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure, HP is among the world's largest IT companies, with revenue totalling $107.7 billion for the four fiscal quarters ended 31 January 2008. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at www.hp.com.

Note to editors: More news from HP is available at www.hp.co.za/newsroom.

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