Realizing the potentials of the MPS (Managed Print Services) market especially in the enterprise space, IT print solutions provider HP on Wednesday announced the creation of a new business unit that will focus solely on managing the MPS function of the company.

Called the Managed Enterprise Solutions (MES) unit, HP officials said during a teleconference with reporters from neighboring Asian countries that the new division will utilize the multi-function device offerings of both HP and Canon, its long-standing partner in the MPS space.

Canon and HP have 25 years of relationship between them, and the new division will further strengthen this collaboration, HP officials said. The expanded alliance will combine Canon's range of multifunction office systems with HP's Laserjet and multifunction printer offerings.

"But the partnership is strictly for the MPS functions this time," clarified Bruce Dahlgren, the newly-appointed head of the new division, adding that HP and Canon remain competitors in other areas of the market, such as consumer electronics.

With the new division bolstering its MPS strategies, HP is keen on making a mark in the print services industry. "We are bringing it all together as a service," remarked Dahlgren. "MPS is becoming a huge trend among enterprises today, with well over one-third of world companies already adopting MPS solutions for their companies.

Dahlgren said MPS will help firms drive efficiency to their businesses by adopting tailored solutions that address their specific problems. To date, he added, HP serves well over 2,000 customers with MPS around the world.

In the Philippines where majority of businesses are SMBs, HP Philippines officials said they are not offering MPS but a host of Smart Printing Services instead. "SPS are solutions that are delivered by most of our channel partners nationwide," explained Jerome Nicdao, Commercial and Enterprise Manager, HP IPG (Imaging and Printing Group) Philippines.

Nicdao said the difference between MPS and SPS in developing countries such as the Philippines is that in countries where MPS is available, HP directly manages the solutions for interested companies. "Here in the companies, since the MPS market is not that big, we trust our channel partners to handle the implementation of our offerings."