MediaRing gets its VoIP client on HP computers

Many Hewlett Packard (HP) computers with Microsoft Vista will come pre-installed with the VoIP service from Asia's largest provider MediaRing after a deal was forged between the two companies.

Chief executive of MediaRing, Khaw Kheng Joo, said: "Our strategic relationship with HP is a major win for us. This unified and secured approach to manage voice and data through a single easy-to-use interface is infinitely exciting for users."

However, the deal only applies to territories in Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan, so European and American new HP computers will remain a blank slate for VoIP users.

It does nevertheless mimic moves by Skype to create deals with hardware manufacturers to get its products to the head of the queue.

Skype has deals with mobile manufacturer BenQ to include a CD with Skype on it in some mobile phone packages, while it signed deals with SanDisk to create a USB memory stick containing the program and with Dell to preinstall it on two laptops.

However, computer networking specialist Mark Krynin, writing for About.com, questions whether such tactics are effective on consumers as unwanted programs are quickly deleted by users keen to save system memory, hard drive space and have a fresh start on their new hardware.

"After a computer system has been purchased, the best thing to do is clean house," he said. "This will generally help to clear up the clutter on the computer system and can help improve system performance."