HP Digital Villages Win Prestigious Global Excellence in IT Award from WITSA.

Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers

ADELAIDE, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 1, 2002

The World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA) Information Technology Excellence Award in the Digital Opportunity category has been awarded to Hewlett-Packard Company for the HP Digital Village Program.

The WITSA awards are presented at the World Congress on Information Technology 2002 in Adelaide, Australia.

Launched in the United States in April 2000, the HP Digital Village Program is part of HP's broader efforts to bridge the digital divide through e-Inclusion, HP's vision of the future in which all people have access to the social and economic opportunities of the digital age.

The pioneering philanthropic program combines technology, brainpower and collaborative energy to help selected underserved communities address their most pressing issues and realize their own visions for the future.

It includes HP products, services, consulting and social venture capital to help the communities jumpstart their collaborative technology plans with partners, such as educational institutions, local government, community services, nonprofits and small businesses.

The HP Digital Village Program is now a global initiative, with three communities in the United States -- East Palo Alto in California, the East Baltimore Empowerment Zone in Maryland and the Southern California Tribal Chairman's Association -- and the KNUST Digital Village in Kumasi, Ghana, the Dikhatole Digital Village in Gauteng, South Africa, and the Villetaneuse Digital Village in Seine-Saint Denis, France.

HP was selected among nominees by Information Technology Association of America member companies and chosen over nominees from 41 global IT association members of WITSA.

"HP has demonstrated leadership worthy of recognition on a global scale," said ITAA President Harris N. Miller. "The HP Digital Village Program brings all the benefits and promise of technology to communities in need. The program is a model of community service and investment in digital opportunity, and ITAA is very pleased that it was chosen to receive an IT Excellence Award."

"I am honored to accept the award on behalf of the HP Digital Villages in the United States, France, Ghana and South Africa," said Bess Stephens, global director, HP Philanthropy and Education. "They illustrate in many inspiring ways that the benefits of technology multiply when business, government and the community take leadership for achieving growth that can be sustained and replicated."

The WITSA IT Excellence awards program was launched at the WCIT2000 in Taipei, where winners attended a gala ceremony honoring their exceptional technical achievements in the application of information technology.

Winners of the esteemed WITSA Awards must exhibit excellence within the scope of one of three broad categories: Public Sector Excellence, Private Sector Excellence, and Digital Opportunity. In addition, a special Chairman's Award is presented to a nominee selected from the entire pool of candidates from all three awards categories.

Eligible organizations for the Digital Opportunity Award included individuals, academic institutions, corporations, NGOs or government authorities that have made a successful effort at providing digital opportunities to those in need.

Nominees must help facilitate the deployment of information technology and use of the internet among inner city populations segments, or in towns, rural areas or cities in developing and least-developed countries in order to be considered for this award. WITSA member associations have autonomy in nominating and selecting the most qualified candidates in their respective country or region.

About WITSA

The World Information Technology and Services Alliance is a consortium of 41 information technology (IT) industry associations from economies around the world.

As the global voice of the IT industry, WITSA is dedicated to advocating policies that advance the industry's growth and development; facilitating international trade and investment in IT products and services; strengthening WITSA's national industry associations through the sharing of knowledge, experience, and critical information; providing members with a vast network of contacts in nearly every geographic region of the world; and hosting the World Congress on IT, the only industry sponsored global IT event.

Founded in 1978 and originally known as the World Computing Services Industry Association, WITSA has increasingly assumed an active advocacy role in international public policy issues affecting the creation of a robust global information infrastructure. For additional information about WITSA and its activities, go to www.witsa.org.

The WITSA Secretariat is currently hosted by the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA). For more information about ITAA, please visit www.itaa.org.