With the heyday of the PC as the center of large trade shows over, and in the aftermath of a quarter where many vendors reported slackening sales, computer makers here are suggesting that they will find financial salvation in their ability to help users manage a fragmented computing environment. Setting the tone for the show, Hewlett-Packard Co. Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and President Carly Fiorina spoke Wednesday, one day before show gates opened to the public, of the recent slump in U.S. financial markets and earnings warnings that IT vendors have issued over the last several months. During this downturn, we have seen revenue growth slow from 15 percent in 2000 to about 2 percent in the first quarter this year. HP also plans to develop mobile connectivity services, which users will be able to access from Jornadas designed to slide into docking stations in cars. The new version comes with role-based management functions to control which administrators can see or manage differing parts of the network.
Prices vary based on number of databases and servers being managed.
Management tools were in demand from users. Management tools and services of all stripes are being announced at the show. Show-goers were treated to a wide range of new phones. Pricing was not immediately available, since it is set by different carriers who provide it to users. The Nokia 8310, to be shipped in the third quarter, will be available in 169 different color combinations, and is targeted at consumers.