News

HP in talks to license webOS out to rival OEMs confirms CEO Apotheker

Building the ecosystem

HP in talks to license webOS out to rival OEMs confirms CEO Apotheker
Though currently on the fringes of the main contest between the major smartphone platforms, Palm's webOS has always enjoyed a dedicated body of fans.

Indeed, it's the potential of the OS that inspired HP to acquire Palm in the first place, with the firm readying itself to deliver a refreshed take on the platform – webOS 3.0 – via TouchPad at the start of July.

However, despite the plaudits, it's the relatively small nature of the webOS ecosystem that threatens to undermine its assault on its rivals this summer, and that's a factor HP may look to rival manufacturers to resolve according to a report by Bloomberg.

Setting sights on Samsung

Speaking to CEO Léo Apotheker, the site claims HP's head confirmed his company is 'in talks' with other OEMs to license the OS out to third-party devices – a tactic that would help webOS reach more consumers and, in turn, attract more developers.

"We are talking to a number of companies," Apotheker said in the interview.

"I can share with you that a number of companies have expressed interest. We are continuing our conversations."

Though not mentioned Apotheker himself, it's believed Samsung may be one of the interested parties, owing to the suggestion HP may let firms alter the OS to suit the relative needs of different devices.

In a separate development, mocoNews reports HP has claimed it will have 6,000 apps ready for TouchPad's launch in the US on July 1 (the tablet coming to the UK on July 15), including specialist webOS only apps from The Guaridan and Last.fm.

TechCrunch has also detailed what it believes will be an exclusive Facebook app for TouchPad – the first time the firm has made an app for a tablet.

[source: Bloomberg]

With a fine eye for detail, Keith Andrew is fuelled by strong coffee, Kylie Minogue and the shapely curve of a san serif font.