Microsoft wants to push its Surface Pro hybrid tablets into more offices this year that it started a partnership with the biggest players in the PC industry starting with Dell and HP -- selling the software giant's hybrid tablets and offering business services such as support and device setups. However, Chinese multinational tech giant Lenovo was not onboard with Microsoft's goal and was curiously absent during its announcement last month.
"I said no to resell their product," Gianfranco Lanci, Lenovo's President and COO said during the Canalys Channels Forum, according to reports. Microsoft had asked him before more than a year ago and said no because he didn't see any reason why they "should sell a product from within brackets, competition."
In other words, Lenovo does not want to carry Microsoft's products that compete in the same bracket as what the company is offering even if they are partners in certain things. Lenovo's latest Miix 700 is a direct competitor of the Redmond's Surface as it features a similar kickstand and a keyboard that can be attached to the display.
Both Dell and HP decided to carry and sell the Surface Pro 3 since the customers have been demanding for it. Customers who purchase a Surface Pro product will get Dell's Hardware Warranty for up to four years, deployment and configuration services, as well as ProSupport with Accidental Damage Services.
However, HP's Executive Vice President of Printing and Personal Systems Organization hinted that the company is not thrilled about the partnership with Microsoft. There will be no commissions for sales people at HP whenever they sell a Surface Pro tablet, but the company will still offer support and service should its customers insist.
Dell, HP and Lenovo are three of the biggest names in the PC industry, and they have partnered with Microsoft and Intel to kick off a new marketing campaign to push Windows devices to consumers. "PC Does What?" is a new program that will let consumers upgrade their four to five year old working computers to the latest PCs that run on Windows 10.
