Now this is certainly a surprising move to just about anyone who hears about this – apparently, computing giant HP has announced that they will be offering firmware updates to HP ProLiant servers only that happen to be still under warranty, and this new policy is all set to kick off after February 19th. In a press release by Vice President HP Servers – Support Technology Services, Mary McCoy, mentioned, “This decision reinforces our goal to provide access to the latest HP firmware, which is valuable intellectual property, for our customers who have chosen to maximize and protect their IT investments. We know this is a change from how we’ve done business in the past; however, this aligns with industry best practices and is the right decision for our customers and partners. Our customers under warranty or support coverage will not need to pay for firmware access, and we are in no way trying to force customers into purchasing extended coverage. That is, and always will be, a customer’s choice”
Basically, as long as you have a valid warranty, Care Pack service or support agreement, firmware updates will be made available to you via the HP support center. Will this move see customers move away from HP in the long run, or decide to stick with the company through thick and thin while forking out more money on Care Pack Services in the long run just to be eligible for the latest firmware updates? Do bear in mind that this only applies to Proliant servers and not consumer products, so breathe easy if you have just purchased that new laptop from HP! [Press Release]
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