Hewlett-Packard, the world's largest computer and printer maker, said today that it agreed to buy Tabblo, a privately held developer of Web-based software, for undisclosed terms.
Tabblo's technology helps consumers arrange and print text, graphics and photos from the Internet using so-called AJAX technology, which allows for drag-and-drop, desktop-type functions within a Web page.
Vyomesh Joshi, who runs HP's imaging and printing group, said that Palo Alto, California-based HP aims to make printing content from the Web as easy as possible, whether printing a simple map or a book of favorite blogs.
HP chief executive Mark Hurd has told investors and analysts not to expect, in general, large, multi-billion-dollar acquisitions. Instead, he said the company plans to make smaller, targeted acquisitions to fill in its businesses.
HP, whose printing business is the world's largest, said it expects the purchase of Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Tabblo to be completed within the next few weeks.
Late in February, HP said it agreed to buy closely held storage software maker PolyServe for undisclosed terms. It said then that the deal would boost its access to the network-attached storage market, one of several technologies for storing large amounts of data in networks.
