Computer giant Hewlett-Packard (HP) has signed a major €5.7m five-year deal to provide the Irish operation of mobile network operator O2 with a range of managed services.
The deal will include the management of HP’s helpdesk support, business continuity services and printing services. “Being entrusted by a household-name company such as O2 with the operation of vital internal functions such as helpdesk support and print management is an endorsement of our position as a leading supplier of professional IT services,” commented Martin Murphy, general manager of HP Ireland.
HP personnel will staff O2’s internal helpdesk and will respond to calls from employees who require assistance with any hardware or software issues.
On the printing side HP will help O2 to rationalise and standardise its internal document requirements by installing and maintaining multifunction devices that will handle printing, copying and faxing. O2 will avail of a utility-style charging structure for this arrangement, which will be based on a per-copy fee.
In terms of business continuity services, HP will provide O2 with alternative workspace facilities to O2 so that in the case of any of its Dublin-based premises becoming inaccessible as many as 350 staff can be accommodated at a business recovery centre in Swords.
O2 Ireland chief executive Danuta Gray commented: “HP’s track record in providing IT equipment to the telecommunications industry is second to none and as such our two companies have had a long-standing relationship. We look forward to the cost and efficiency benefits that will ensue from adopting HP’s managed-services approach to our helpdesk, business continuity and printing requirements.”
In related news, an estimated €20bn takeover of O2’s European operations by KPN and Deutsche Telekom fell apart after both companies failed to agree over the structure of the offer.
By John Kennedy
