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HP's WebOS Future for Mobile Devices: A New Dawn for HP?

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

HP's acquisition of Palm and its Palm WebOS operating system has left many wondering whether the company will abandon its Windows 7-based tablet in favor of a more energy-efficient and intuitive mobile operating system. Phil McKinney, VP and CTO of HP's personal systems group, recently confirmed that the HP tablet will support Adobe's Flash, a key feature that sets it apart from the iPad. However, with Flash not fully supported on WebOS yet, HP faces a critical decision: whether to stick with Windows 7 or transition to Palm's WebOS. The stakes are high, as HP's tablet aims to compete with the iPad's massive sales figures. With Palm's WebOS potentially offering a more suitable platform for mobile devices, HP's future in the market hangs in the balance.

Key Takeaways:

  • HP's acquisition of Palm has sparked speculation about the company's plans for its recently announced tablet, which will support Adobe's Flash.
  • The HP tablet faces competition from the iPad, which has sold an estimated 10-12 million units per year, and will have a new version of its iPhone OS with multi-tasking in September.
  • Palm's WebOS, which currently has around 2,000 apps, is seen as a more energy-efficient and intuitive mobile operating system compared to Windows 7.
  • HP has a serious problem choosing between Windows 7 and Palm's WebOS, with Windows 7 being best suited for PCs with a keyboard and mouse.
  • The company's decision will determine whether it goes after RIM in the corporate market, Apple in the consumer market, or Nokia in emerging countries.

Statistics:

  • Palm had a 1% share of the smartphone market in 2009 with estimated sales of 2.4 million (about 2.5 months of iPad sales).
  • Nokia sells an estimated 20 million smartphones a quarter, while RIM and Apple sell about 10 million smartphones quarterly.
  • HP spent $1.2 billion to acquire Palm.
  • Palm's WebOS App Catalog has around 2,000 apps, while Apple has more than 200,000 apps, including about 5,000 specific to the iPad.

Sources:

  • HP's Web site (http://h20435.www2.hp.com/t5/Voodoo-Blog/HP-s-Slate-Device-Delivers-a-Holistic-Mobile-Experience/ba-p/54735)
  • "HP Slate Brings Hardware to a Software Fight" (http://www.onlinereporter.com/article.php?article_id=18393)
  • Quotations from Phil McKinney, VP and CTO of HP's personal systems group, and Todd Bradley, executive VP of HP's $28 billion a year personal systems group.

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