HP, Box Partner on Cloud Content Management Platform

Technology giant Hewlett-Packard and secure content-sharing specialist Box announced a partnership to provide small and midsize businesses with an integrated collaboration experience to a range of users—from the individual to the enterprise—for storing and managing content in the cloud.

HP is offering the Box cloud content management and collaboration platform on select SMB and enterprise devices. Customers who purchase select HP Compaq Elite and HP Compaq Pro business desktops will have access to special offers from Box that include increased storage capacity and enterprise sync for enhanced collaboration and content management in the cloud. Businesses that purchase select HP business PCs will have access to a free account on the Box platform.

Customers who purchase an HP Compaq 6005 or 6200 Pro Series PC through the HP Smart Buy program can choose to open a free Box account with 10GB of storage, with the option to upgrade to additional capacities at a reduced annual rate. Those who purchase an HP Compaq 8200 Elite Series PC through the HP Smart Buy program can choose to open a Box account with unlimited storage and sync at no cost for one year.

“To be successful in today’s enterprise, businesses of all sizes must provide their end users with the right tools to drive innovation, foster collaboration and increase customer adoption,” said Aaron Levie, co-founder and CEO of Box. “Box and HP are focused on helping redefine the way organizations manage and share information in the cloud. Together, we can empower the next generation of knowledge workers.”

IT research firm Gartner recently estimated that while $74 billion was spent on public cloud services in 2010, it represented only 3 percent of enterprise spending. The Gartner report predicted that public cloud services would grow five times faster than overall IT enterprise spending (19 percent annually through 2015).

“Our customers are entering a new era of data management and storage, and they need a simple, cost-effective way to collaborate and share information in the cloud,” said Stephen DiFranco, senior vice president and general manager of the HP Americas personal systems group. “HP’s broad range of PCs plus Box’s scalable service provides the desirable security, functionality and features to meet the needs and budgets of our customers.”