Ford to Put HP Computers in Workers’ Homes

Ford Motor Co. will announce plans today to put Hewlett-Packard personal computers in the homes of its worldwide work force, a trade publication said. Ford Chairman William Ford Jr., Chief Executive Jac Nasser and United Auto Workers President Stephen Yokich will make the announcement at a news conference in Detroit, Ward’s Automotive Reports said in an online story. Ford spokesman Ed Miller declined to comment, but the auto maker scheduled a news conference at UAW headquarters for a “major announcement” today. Such a deal would provide a boost worth millions of dollars to Palo Alto-based Hewlett-Packard. Under Ford’s plan, employees would begin receiving the computers in the second quarter, complete with printer and receive unlimited access to the Internet for $5 a month, Ward’s said, citing people familiar with the plan. Nasser already communicates with Ford’s white-collar employees via a weekly e-mail newsletter, Ward’s said.