HP UK Press Release

HP offers more value to customers by introducing and refreshing 2-pack inkjet print cartridges and HP Photo Packs

LONDON, 27 June, 2006 – HP today introduced two new 2-packs to its portfolio of inkjet print cartridges, and refreshed four existing 2-packs. These products – two inkjet print cartridges in one pack – will offer customers an increased saving of up to 20 percent(1), as well as the opportunity to employ industry-leading HP Vivera Inks, designed to work seamlessly with HP printers and media to provide crisp, sharp lines and vibrant colours. At the same time, HP is further reaffirming its commitment to offering its customers choice, value and cost transparency by extending and updating the highly popular HP Photo Packs range.

HP 2-packs
The HP 2-pack product range consists of the HP 56 Black Inkjet Print Cartridge 2-pack, HP 57 Tri-colour Inkjet Print Cartridge 2-pack, HP 339 Black Inkjet Print Cartridge 2-pack with Vivera Inks and HP 344 Tri-colour Inkjet Print Cartridge 2-pack with Vivera Inks. From today this product range will be extended with the introduction of the HP 338 Black Inkjet Print Cartridge 2-pack and HP 343 Tri-colour Inkjet Print Cartridge 2-pack, both with Vivera Inks.

The product range has been designed to meet the needs of customers who want to print in larger volumes, but who do not want to compromise on the quality and reliability of their printing. The HP 56 Black Inkjet Print Cartridge 2-pack, HP 57 Tri-colour Inkjet Print Cartridge 2-pack, HP 339 Black Inkjet Print Cartridge 2-pack with Vivera Ink and HP 344 Tri-colour Inkjet Print Cartridge 2-pack with Vivera Inks are currently available, but this extension will significantly increase the discount offered.

Vincent Vanderpoel, vice president and general manager for HP’s Supplies Imaging and Printing Group, EMEA, explains the rationale behind the new arrivals:

“HP has recognised different types of printing customers, each with distinct and clearly-defined printing needs. HP 2-packs are a simple, cost-effective way for customers who need to print in large volumes, to print crisp text documents using original HP supplies.”

HP Photo Packs
The extension of the HP Photo Pack range is a direct response to surging customer demand: an estimated 54 million photos were printed(2) on HP Photo Packs between September and December 2005.

Changes announced today include:

The HP 363 Series Photo Value Pack has been updated with new HP Advanced Glossy Photo Paper 10x15cm borderless
The HP 110 Series Photo Value Pack will be launched on 1st July. This consists of the new HP 110 Series Tri-colour Inkjet Print Cartridge with Vivera Inks and 120 sheets of the new HP Advanced Glossy Photo Paper 10 x 15 cm borderless.
HP Photo Packs offer customers the very best of HP’s innovative technology as HP Advanced Photo Paper will be replacing HP Photo Paper, enabling higher quality photo prints through heavier weight (210g/m2 to 250g/m2), lab-quality and instant-dry ability. Along with these benefits, when combined with the new HP 110 Series Tri-colour Inkjet Print Cartridge, the new media will also make features such as water, humidity and smudge resistance as well as a fade resistance for generations, available to customers of the compact photo printer range for the first time.

Vanderpoel continues: “HP Photo Packs not only offer all of HP’s superior photo printing technology when used in conjunction with HP printers, they represent excellent value and transparent costs, since customers can see exactly how many ‘picture perfect’ photos they will be able to print with their purchase.

“As it always has, HP will carry on adapting its products and policies to ensure it best meets the diverse needs of all its customers,” he concluded.

Recognising the need for customer choice, HP will continue to make all inkjet cartridges included in the HP 2-pack range available as single cartridges to suit those customers with lower volume printing needs. Similarly, the HP 110 Tri-colour Inkjet Print Cartridge offers the low UK MRSP of £14.99 and is also available as a standalone product and not only as part of the HP 110 Series Photo Value Pack, enabling customers to print in smaller volumes and in various print sizes such as 13 x18 cm (3) .

Pricing and availability

Product UK MRSP Yield(3)  Availability
HP 338 Black Inkjet Print Cartridge 2-pack with Vivera Ink £ 21.99 Approximately 900 black and white pages 1st June 2006
HP 343 Tri-colour Inkjet Print Cartridge 2-pack with Vivera Inks £27.99 Approximately 520 colour pages 1st June 2006
HP 339 Black Inkjet Print Cartridge 2-pack with Vivera Ink £32.99 Approximately 1600 black and white pages 1st June 2006
HP 344 Tri-colour Inkjet Print Cartridge 2-pack with Vivera Inks £39.99 Approximately 900 colour pages 1st June 2006
HP 56 Black Inkjet Print Cartridge 2-pack £23.99 Approximately 900 black and white pages 1st June 2006
HP 57 Tri-colour Inkjet Print Cartridge 2-pack £39.99 Approximately 800 colour pages 1st June 2006
HP 363 Series Photo Value Pack 10 x15 cm/ 150 sheets with new media £27.99 Up to 150 photos 10x15 cm(4)  1st June 2006
HP 110 Series Photo Value Pack 10 x15 cm/ 120 sheets £23.99 Up to 120 photos 10x15 cm (4)  1st July 2006
HP 110 Tri-colour Inkjet Print Cartridge £14.99 Approximately 50 photos 10x15 cm 1st July 2006
HP Advanced Glossy Photo Paper 250g/m² - 13x18 cm/25 sheets, PN Q8696A £5.99   1st July 2006
HP Advanced Glossy Photo Paper 250g/m² - 13x18 cm/50 sheets, PN Q8695A £7.99   1st July 2006

About HP
HP is a technology solutions provider to consumers, businesses and institutions globally. The company’s offerings span IT infrastructure, global services, business and home computing, and imaging and printing. For the four fiscal quarters ended April 30, 2006, HP revenue totaled $88.9 billion. More information about HP (NYSE, Nasdaq: HPQ) is available at www.hp.com.

(1) Compared to the purchase price of two single inkjet print cartridges
(2) Statistic from products sell-out data (average monthly shipments from wholesalers to retailers) between September and December 2005 for EMEA divided by the number of sheets within the photo packs.
(3) HP Photo Packs actual number of photos may vary based on the image printed, printer used and other factors
For more information about HP Black and Graphic yield go to www.hp.com/pageyield
For more information about fade resistance go to www.hp.com/eur/faderesistance