Sharp to Offer Copiers under HP Brand Name

As revealed by Midway, Kentucky-based research group Photizo, a report from Reuter’s out of Japan indicates that Sharp Corporation may complete a deal to make copiers under the HP brand. Some industry sources say Sharp’s supply of copiers to HP could begin in the second half of its fiscal year ending in March 2014.

Photizo believes the partnership is significant for both parties and will have a “remarkable” impact on these two market players.
In the past, Sharp had engaged in an alliance with Samsung. Regarding the partnership between HP and Sharp, Photizo commented that HP will certainly change “Sharp’s fortunes in a positive direction”. However, this partnership might affect the engine supplying pact between HP and Canon.

Market analysts at Photizo observed that results from HP’s previous partnerships with Canon and Konica Minolta to tackle the copier market were not satisfying. Thus, they question how this partnership differs from previous ones and why it might work.