Three HP user groups combine forces

The Hewlett-Packard user community
now has a virtual supergroup, as Encompass,
HP Interex EMEA and
ITUG have consolidated into
a single organization called Connect.

At about 50,000 members, Connect will be the largest HP user group, according
to its initial president, Nina Buik.

"We realized we are much better together. We have a 50,000-member base
out of the gate that is going to have a much stronger voice toward HP,"
said Buik, who is senior vice president of MindIQ, an e-learning company in
Norcross, Georgia, and has served as Encompass president.

The user groups announced their intentions in February.

Member voting that concluded last week was confined to Encompass and ITUG;
HP Interex EMEA members had previously agreed to join a combined group, she
said. Members "overwhelmingly" went for the change, according to Buik.

However, another HP group, Vivit,
was invited to join, but declined, she said. Vivit could not be reached for
comment.