HTC may be openly considering a bid for HP's webOS business, but one report also suggests the firm is already working on its own operating system.

The claim, made in an article by The Korea Times, states the manufacturer "admits that it plans to develop its own mobile operating system" in a bid to up its standing against its rivals.

All this, despite HTC publicly seeming to suggest it's not interested in it going alone. 

Strange strategy

A case of mistranslation? Either way, the report goes on to claim analysts have already branded any such move as potentially catastrophic.

 

The likely failure of the platform – owing to a lack of developer support when compared to iOS and Android – could leave the manufacturer trailing in its rivals' wake.

"HTC sees Samsung Electronics as its biggest rival," states the paper. "An uncompetitive and content-lacking OS would set HTC back and undoubtedly drag down its brand loyalty."

Partner power

Such a strategy also stands in stark contrast to the statement put out by HTC chairwoman Cher Wang, who admitted HTC had considered making a move for webOS, but added the company didn't necessarily need its own platform.

"We can use any OS we want. We are able to make things different from our rivals on the second or third layer of a platform," said Wang, earlier in September.

"Our strength lies in understanding an OS, but it does not mean that we have to produce an OS."

Elsewhere, The Korea Times quotes HTC North Asia president Jack Tong as saying the company will also look to strengthen its ties with existing partners Google and Microsoft, again suggesting a move to launch a proprietary OS is unlikely.

[source: The Korea Times]