Established in 1939, Hp is considered to be the largest consumer IT company, the world's largest small and medium size business IT company and a leading enterprise IT company. HP is focused on helping people apply technology in meaningful ways to their businesses, personal lives and communities. The annual R&D investment of nearly $4 billion (USD) fuels the invention of products, solutions and new technologies, so that HP can better serve customers and enter new markets. It produces an average of 11 patents a day worldwide. In addition to the R&D and innovation in the product and services groups, HP Labs provides a central research function for the company. HP Labs is focused on inventing new technologies that change markets and create business opportunities.

In response to customer needs and the changing market conditions, HP has built a breadth and depth of portfolio unequaled in the industry. Its technology now ranges from consumer handheld devices all the way to some of the world's largest and most powerful supercomputer installations.

The merger with Compaq Computer Corporation forged a dynamic, powerful team of 145,000 employees doing business in more than 170 countries.

Hp has a significant presence in all the markets it serves

• HP consumer business has leadership positions in handhelds, notebooks, printers and cameras - focused on delivering simple, rewarding experiences to hundreds of millions of customers.
• The SMB business leverages innovations from both the consumer and enterprise segments. Hp has market-leading positions in data center and office computing, and it owns the imaging and printing market.
• The enterprise segment draws from HP's full portfolio of products, services and technologies. Hp is considered to be the leading company in all three server-based operating environments, and holds top positions in enterprise storage and IT services management.
• With more than 60 years of experience serving the technology needs of the public sector, HP brings the full breadth of its portfolio and alliances to help governments, educators, healthcare providers and others working in the public interest to lower their costs, increase efficiencies and serve their citizens, businesses and other government agencies better.

HP and Mitel Networks have formed a strategic partnership in the emerging IP telephony market aimed at delivering customer-focused, converged communications solutions.

The combination of best-in-class enterprise switching products from HP with leading edge IP telephony products from Mitel Networks, will provide end-to-end data and telephony solutions over a single, simple infrastructure.