Hewlett Packard lose to Dell on TPSA hardware deal

Computer hardware producer Dell outplaced Hewlett Packard (HP) in a tender organized by Telekomunikacja Polska S.A. on computer delivery for the telecom giant. The companies signed a one-year contract which according to Puls Biznesu could reach the value of $20 million. Due to this quite unexpected outcome of the tender, HP has lost its largest customer. " It is difficult to estimate the value of the contract because it is a blanket agreement in which we were guaranteed equipment at a specified price level. We cannot currently estimate our exact needs and cannot state precisely how many computers we will buy," explained TPSA spokesperson Witold Rataj. According to unofficial information, the choice of Dell as computer equipment supplier was due not only to a lower price offer, but also to a recent conflict between HP and TPSA's computer systems division. " I would not go looking for any sensation. It was a clear business decision. Dell's offer proved better for now. It might be the case that next year another company will win the tender - possibly HP," added Rataj. (Puls Biznesu, p. 4) A.K.