Hewlett-Packard to begin selling portable players

Hewlett-Packard Co. unveiled its own version of the iPod portable music player Friday, showing the fruits of a groundbreaking partnership it had previously announced with Apple Computer Inc.

H-P is now taking orders for the player, which it has dubbed the “Apple iPod from H-P.” The product, pictured at right, is a replica of Apple’s latest models of the popular white 20-gigabyte and 40-gigabyte iPods — but carries the H-P brand instead.

The price will be $299 for the 20-gigabyte model, or $399 for the 40-gigabyte model, matching Apple’s current prices. The players will be available in early September — the same month H-P will release about two dozen other new consumer products, including a 42-inch plasma television and an all-in-one home theater projector, which also were announced Friday.

Lawrence

Chamber announces finalists for awards

The Lawrence Chamber of Commerce has chosen 15 finalists for its second annual Excellence in Commerce Awards. The finalists, chosen from 56 nominees, are:

• Bob Billings Rising Star Award — Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, Paradise Floors and ServiceMaster Cleansweep Janitorial.
• Hospitality award — J.B. Stouts Sports Bar & Grill, Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites and Z’s Divine Espresso Inc.
• Manufacturing and distribution award — Amarr Garage Doors, Astaris and Prosoco.
• Technology award — Allen Press, Pinnacle Technology and The World Company.
• Service award — Cottonwood, Inc., Lawrence Therapy Services and Pearson Government Solutions.

Winners will be announced at a ceremony at 7:30 a.m. Oct. 15 at the Lawrence Holidome, 200 McDonald Drive.

Overland Park

Sprint, SBC sign deal for greater Wi-Fi access

Customers of Overland Park-based Sprint Corp. and SBC Communications Inc. will be able to use both companies’ wireless Internet connections with less hassle under a reciprocal deal announced Friday.

The agreement allows SBC customers to use Sprint’s Wi-Fi “hot spots” and Sprint customers to use SBC’s hot spots — without setting up new accounts.

Wi-Fi, short for wireless fidelity, radiates an Internet connection to users within 300 feet. Communications companies have installed hot spots at places like airports, coffee shops and hotels, where many people congregate.

The agreement adds 2,300 hot spots to Sprint’s existing 3,000 hot spots. Company officials said they planned to add 5,000 additional hot spots by year’s end.

Atchison

MGP to pay dividend

Atchison-based MGP Ingredients announced Friday that its board of directors had approved a dividend of 15 cents per share. The dividend is payable Nov. 4.

The company cited improved sales in its specialty ingredients division as a reason why the company could pay a dividend. The company manufactures an ingredient that is used in many low carbohydrate foods.