ProCurve Networking by HP Provides Backbone for Microsoft Technology Centers Worldwide


PALO ALTO, Calif., Dec. 10, 2007 - ProCurve Networking by HP today announced that its
infrastructure products have been chosen as the standard for all Microsoft Technology Centers(MTCs) around the world.

Microsoft has installed, or is in the process of installing, ProCurve wired and wireless networks at its eight MTCs in North America, as well as global locations in China, Dubai, France, Germany,India, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

As the sole network infrastructure vendor for all MTCs worldwide, ProCurve will provide joint support of new product trials, integration testing and new product demonstrations for MTC clients who require security and highly available networks. The ProCurve infrastructure allows customers to easily test out their products and services in a networking environment created to manage advanced applications without requiring any hardware upgrades.

MTCs were established in 2001 to showcase the latest technologies from Microsoft and its strategic partners. Each MTC has a team of experts that works with customers to plan, design and evaluate customized products using Microsoft and interoperable partner technologies, including ProCurve, prior to deployment in customers' IT environments.

"ProCurve's equipment is paramount to our global technology centers. All MTC visitors will be able to witness the reliability of the network based on ProCurve technology," said John Mathieu, director, MTC Global Alliance. "The ProCurve infrastructure has given MTCs greatly enhanced network power and the ability to adapt without compromising security."

MTC networks feature ProCurve's award-winning 5400zl Switch Series, which delivers Gigabit wirespeed performance, intelligence and control to the edge of the network. MTC networks also utilize the ProCurve 2900 Switch Series, a high-bandwidth, plug-and-play, 10-Gbps Ethernet switch for stacking and uplink. In addition, the centers feature the ProCurve 5300 Switch Series for scalable Layer 2, 3, and 4 switching in compact 4- or 8-slot modular form factors.

To address network mobility tasks, MTCs use ProCurve Access Point 530, a secure, dual-radio standalone access point that protects MTC networks and assets from unauthorized access. To manage the MTC, both the wired and wireless infrastructure are supported by ProCurve Identity Driven Manager, a plug-in module software management tool for ProCurve Manager Plus that applies security and performance settings to help administrators efficiently manage users and devices connecting to the network.

Further information on ProCurve networking solutions, products and lifetime warranty is
available at www.procurve.com.

About ProCurve Networking by HP
The ProCurve Networking business unit of HP delivers wired and wireless enterprise networking products, services and solutions. The foundation for ProCurve's business model is the Adaptive Networks strategy in which networks are adaptive to users, applications and an organization's needs.

About HP
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 totaling $104.3 billion for the four fiscal quarters ended Oct. 31, 2007. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at www.hp.com.

More news from HP, including links to RSS feeds, is available at www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/.

Editorial contacts:
Dave Kamp
ProCurve Networking by HP
+1 (916) 785-3069
dkamp@hp.com

Ben Stricker
Burson-Marsteller for HP
+1 (916) 785-4599
ben.stricker@bm.com

Hewlett-Packard Company
3000 Hanover Street
Palo Alto, CA 94304
www.hp.com

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