AfterDawn: News

HP wants to keep webOS only for its printers

According to multiple sources, HP still wants webOS for one thing only, its printers.

The company acquired the mobile operating system when it purchased Palm in 2010 and recently shut down its webOS hardware division.



HP is actively looking for a buyer of webOS, which cost them $1.2 billion to purchase and $1.66 billion to run into the ground.

Because of their want to have the operating system on their printers, it has apparently become a sticking point with potential buyers that they must be able to license the OS back "on the cheap" for use in the printers.

Intel, Amazon and Qualcomm are said to be early stage potential buyers of Palm, webOS and all its patents, which are worth hundreds of millions on their own.




Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 23 Nov 2011 23:28

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• 5 comments

• llongtheD

  Do they want to sell it, or keep it? It's difficult for a buyer to buy something and the seller to say your just a renter. Just because the public has bought into renting, it doesn't mean business will as well.
  

  If your fish seems sick, put it back in the water.

  24.11.2011 01:12 #1

• KillerBug

  HP needs to take a look at the companies that make better printers than them (AKA every other printer company on earth) and realize that the more "features" you put on a printer, the more problematic it becomes. Look a Xerox...they make basic printers with small B&W screens and proven tech...and they can charge more than HP because people know that these printers work.
  

  
  

  24.11.2011 03:23 #2

• Azuran

  Originally posted by llongtheD: Do they want to sell it, or keep it? It's difficult for a buyer to buy something and the seller to say your just a renter. Just because the public has bought into renting, it doesn't mean business will as well. HP would be the renter in this case.
  

  24.11.2011 15:59 #3

• llongtheD

  Originally posted by Azuran: Originally posted by llongtheD: Do they want to sell it, or keep it? It's difficult for a buyer to buy something and the seller to say your just a renter. Just because the public has bought into renting, it doesn't mean business will as well. HP would be the renter in this case. Depends on how you look at it. They own the OS, and want specific terms if someone "buys" it. If you bought a car and the dealer said its all yours but we get to drive it on Sundays or whenever we want as long as we call, you'd feel like a renter. So, I disagree with you. I guess you think there should be stipulations attached to ownership? When I buy something I would rather not have the previous owner be legally entitled to use it "on the cheap."
  

  If your fish seems sick, put it back in the water.

  25.11.2011 04:14 #4

• bubbah

  HP would be the renter in this case. HP now treats their products like PEZ dispensers ...they want to sell the OS but want to use it on their printers which would cripple the OS development to the level of a printer window or else make the buyer have a whole separate development team to make it do what HP wants... I say, sell Meg and keep the webOS !!

  25.11.2011 14:40 #5