Foxconn Electronics has formed an alliance with Hewlett-Packard (HP) for the co-development of new technologies and new products, the leading Taiwan EMS (electronics manufacturing service) company announced yesterday.

New products slated for joint development by Foxconn and HP include communication devices and consumer electronics products, said a Foxconn spokesman. However, the spokesman declined to reveal details of the partnership.

For Foxconn, the partnership will mean more long-term OEM orders, for an increased number of products, from HP, said market sources. Foxconn has been a major contract maker of desktops and other PC components for HP.

The sources also speculated that HP might transfer know-how for the manufacturing of printers to Foxconn, who would then make printers for HP on an OEM basis.