HP's Meg Whitman: Microsoft and Intel now rivals

HP chief executive Meg Whitman has admitted that "long-term HP partners like Intel and Microsoft are increasingly becoming outright competitors".

Speaking at a securities analysts briefing last week, Whitman outlined the three key challenges faced by HP, of shifting market forces, the changing competitive landscape and the company's own "ability to execute".

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The company faces competition from new rivals as well as existing partners, said Whitman.

"Our competitors are expanding across the IT stack with integrated products and solutions," she said.

"Our business-specific competitors are exerting increased pressure in targeted areas and are going after new markets. We also have some emerging competitors who are disrupting markets with new technologies and new business models.

"And finally, current long-term HP partners like Intel and Microsoft are increasingly becoming outright competitors," added Whitman.

The name checking tallies with HP's wider strategies, including its increasingly cosy relationships with Google.

HP revealed a new line of Chromebooks just this week.

Its partner-competitor friction with Microsoft is particularly apparent in the mobility space, following the release of its Surface tablet.

[Related: Surface could be released to all Microsoft resellers]