SAN FRANCISCO, Sept 30 (Reuters) – Hewlett-Packard Co
(HPQ.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) on Thursday named the former head of German software
company SAP Leo Apotheker as chief executive in a surprise
appointment that sent HP shares down 3 percent.

Apotheker spent more than two decades at German business
software company SAP (SAPG.DE: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz). He was named SAP co-chief
executive in April 2008, and became its sole leader in July
2009. He resigned abruptly earlier this year.

SAN FRANCISCO/NEW YORK (Reuters) – Hewlett-Packard Co made overtures to two senior executives from rival IBM in its search for a new chief executive, but was rebuffed, according to people familiar with the matter.

In the early stages of a closely watched CEO hunt, now into its sixth week, HP reached out to Steve Mills, who leads IBM’s software and systems group, according to two sources with knowledge of the approach.

SAN FRANCISCO/NEW YORK (Reuters) – Hewlett-Packard Co made overtures to two senior executives from rival IBM in its search for a new chief executive, but was rebuffed, according to people familiar with the matter.

In the early stages of a closely watched CEO hunt, now into its sixth week, HP reached out to Steve Mills, who leads IBM’s software and systems group, according to two sources with knowledge of the approach.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Hewlett-Packard Co (HPQ.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), reassuring investors worried about growth after the surprise departure of ex-CEO Mark Hurd, forecast 2011 results that surpassed Wall Street expectations and propped up its shares.

The world’s largest tech company underscored its potential in still-evolving markets for mobile devices such as tablets, storage and networking. But competition in those areas is fierce and getting fiercer.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – App developer Pinger is rolling out a new voice calling service for the iPod touch and iPhone, aiming to challenge Skype and others by offering free or low-cost phones calls.

Pinger, which is profitable and backed by venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, has become one of the most successful of the startup app developers.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Hewlett-Packard Co (HPQ.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), facing questions about its growth strategy after the surprise departure of ex-CEO Mark Hurd, on Tuesday forecast 2011 results that surpassed Wall Street expectations and propped up its shares.

The world’s largest technology company forecast 12-14 percent growth in non-GAAP earnings in fiscal 2011 and revenue growth of 5-7 percent, helping its shares gain more than 1 percent in after-hours trade.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Research In Motion unveiled a tablet computer on Monday that it hopes will leapfrog Apple’s iPad with its potential for social networking, media publishing and corporate uses.

The tablet, named BlackBerry PlayBook, has a seven-inch screen and dual facing cameras. It has WiFi and Bluetooth but needs to link with a BlackBerry smartphone to access the cellular network.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Dell Inc Chief Executive Michael Dell showed off a new seven-inch tablet and said the computer maker is on track to bring in more than $60 billion in revenue this year.

Dell appeared on stage at the Oracle OpenWorld conference in San Francisco on Wednesday with the new tablet, which appeared to run on Google’s Android software. But he declined to provide any details about the device.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Dell Inc CEO Michael Dell said the company is on track to bring in more than $60 billion in revenue this year, as he showed off the computer maker’s newest 7-inch tablet.

Speaking at the Oracle OpenWorld conference in San Francisco on Wednesday, Dell said the company’s revenue has grown about 20 percent over the past two quarters, and “it looks like we’ll probably do that again this quarter as well.”

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept 21 (Reuters) – Adobe Systems Inc
(ADBE.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) set a revenue forecast for its fourth quarter that was
below Wall Street’s target, and the software maker’s shares
fell 14 percent after-hours.

Analysts said sales of one of the company’s core products,
Creative Suite 5, appear to be struggling due to head winds in
the broader economy.