On Monday Hewlett-Packard revealed HP Strategic IT Advisory Services, a consulting division to guide CIOs on strategy. And the release has the channel asking, isn’t that our job?

The offering “is designed to help chief information officers (CIOs) use IT as a key driver of innovation, growth and profitability,” said HP in a public statement. To which TheVARGuy responded in a blog post:

Hmm, The VAR Guy thinks that sounds a lot like what HP’s channel partners should be doing… The VAR Guy thinks [listed services] sound exactly like what channel partners for HP, or any other vendor, could be doing to help out an enterprise.

HP did not go to far as to use the word trusted advisor, but the language was close enough, noted  CRN’s Kevin McLaughlin.

He went on to speculate that Strategic IT Advisory Services could be focused on the cloud, where HP might feel it can provide better service if it is closer to the customer.

Cloud computing is a huge area of focus for HP at the moment, and the new portfolio includes services that help businesses gauge their readiness for the cloud and also get up to speed on the ins and outs of services delivery. For companies that are considering M&A activity, HP also offers planning and IT integration services.

HP in January launched a private cloud infrastructure-as-a-service that’s delivered from its data centers. HP’s Cloud Enablement Program gives partners financial incentives to build their own cloud service delivery platforms using HP’s Converged Infrastructure portfolio.

HP’s intent and the impact on its channel remain uncertain. HP is not Apple, which announced a competitive offering to its own channel last month and didn’t bat an eye about the message it sent to partners. HP relies on its channel and will likely take steps to smooth ruffled feathers or at the very least, offer an explanation. Wait and see.