News

Samsung would 'never' pursue deal to buy webOS, claims CEO Choi

Hates fashion for platform purchases

Samsung would 'never' pursue deal to buy webOS, claims CEO Choi
Samsung has been touted by many as a possible suitor for HP's webOS and/or PC business, giving existing Palm Pre and TouchPad owners a modicum of hope the ecosystem won't be abandoned in the years to come.

However, making reference to what he believes has become a trend for firms buying operating systems, Samsung CEO Choi Che Sung said he can't imagine Samsung would ever pursue such a deal.

No thrill of the chase

"It's not right that acquiring an operating system is becoming a fashion," Choi said at IFA 2011 in Berlin, adding Samsung would "never" chase a rival OS.

Choi took time to big up Samsung's existing platform, bada, claiming the Korean firm is working "harder than people outside think" to push the OS forward.

Indeed, it's just released bada 2.0, announced three new handsets, and this week has been trying to persuade Android developers to also make bada apps. 

Though commentators talked up a possible move by Samsung for webOS – fuelled by concerns the company will be frozen out of Android following Google's acquisition of rival Motorola – the company is already committed to developing another new open source platform with LG and the Korean Government.

A more likely buyer for some commentators is HTC. The Taiwanese manufacturer is a growing force on Android and Windows Phone, but has no platform of its own to fall back on.

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