We recently heard that HP may be considering selling off webOS, which the company acquired when they purchased Palm. This acquisition ended up costing HP over $3.3 billion. Now, the company has announced that they will decide what to do with webOS within the next two weeks.
HP’s CEO Meg Whitman recently told the French newspaper Le Figaro that the company would make a decision within the next two weeks on what to do with webOS.
The Future of webOS
It isn’t clear as yet whether HP will decide to sell webOS, which currently includes around 600 employees who work in the webOS team. The uncertainty surrounding webOS has left many industry analysts speculating about its future. Some believe that HP might retain the operating system and attempt to integrate it into their other product lines, such as printers or PCs. Others think that selling webOS to another company that specializes in mobile technology might be the best course of action.
The webOS platform has had a tumultuous history. Initially developed by Palm, it was considered a promising competitor to other mobile operating systems like iOS and Android. However, despite its innovative features and user-friendly interface, webOS struggled to gain significant market share. When HP acquired Palm in 2010, there were high hopes that the tech giant would be able to leverage its resources to make webOS a success. Unfortunately, this did not come to fruition, and HP eventually discontinued its webOS-based devices, including the HP TouchPad tablet.
Potential Buyers and Strategic Moves
If HP decides to sell webOS, there are several potential buyers who might be interested. Companies like LG, which has already used webOS in its smart TVs, could see value in acquiring the platform to enhance their product offerings. Other tech giants, such as Samsung or Google, might also consider purchasing webOS to bolster their own mobile operating systems or to gain access to the talented team of developers behind it.
Another possibility is that HP could choose to open-source webOS, allowing the developer community to take over its development and potentially breathe new life into the platform. This move could foster innovation and lead to new applications and uses for webOS that HP might not have considered.
Regardless of the decision, the fate of webOS will have significant implications for the employees working on the platform. If HP decides to sell or discontinue webOS, these employees may face job uncertainty or be reassigned to other projects within the company. On the other hand, if HP chooses to retain and invest in webOS, it could lead to new opportunities and growth for the team.
As soon as we get some more information, we will let you guys know. The next two weeks will be crucial in determining the future of webOS and its place in the tech industry.
Source Cnet
Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals
Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
