HP Announces Plans to Discontinue webOS Hardware

Remember when HP acquired Palm, and they released some interesting phones based on webOS? Well, it hasn’t turned out as expected and today the company has announced it will be discontinuing hardware based on webOS, such as tablets and phones. This potential rival to iOS seems to have given up, and is going to shut it down, via SplatF:

HP will consider a broad range of options that may include, among others, a full or partial separation of PSG from HP through a spin-off or other transaction.

In addition, HP reported that it plans to announce that it will discontinue operations for webOS devices, specifically the TouchPad and webOS phones. HP will continue to explore options to optimize the value of webOS software going forward.

Also noted is a rumoured $10 billion dollar deal for HP to acquire Autonomy, a software maker in the UK. Palm was comprised of many former Apple employees, but even that has not enabled HP to help sell their products (TouchPad sales have been dismal in the USA). WebOS is still impressive, but it appears licensing out the technology could be an option. R.I.P., HP webOS devices. Gee, I wonder how TouchPad and Pre owners feel right about now.

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Flabeo
14 years ago

HP was only interested in Palm’s patents, they just had to make it look like they tried.

Flabeo
14 years ago

HP was only interested in Palm’s patents, they just had to make it look like they tried.

Flabeo
14 years ago

HP was only interested in Palm’s patents, they just had to make it look like they tried.

Flabeo
14 years ago

HP was only interested in Palm’s patents, they just had to make it look like they tried.

Flabeo
14 years ago

HP was only interested in Palm’s patents, they just had to make it look like they tried.

Flabeo
14 years ago

HP was only interested in Palm’s patents, they just had to make it look like they tried.

Flabeo
14 years ago

HP was only interested in Palm’s patents, they just had to make it look like they tried.

Gary
14 years ago

Just seems sad to spend all that money on R&D for hardware, only to give up so damn early. Guess they see the writing on the wall with lackluster sales.

Michael Kwan
14 years ago

FML. They’re giving up too early.

Michael Kwan
14 years ago

FML. They’re giving up too early.

Gary
14 years ago

Did you end up buying any HP/Palm devices?

Michael Kwan
14 years ago

I didn’t *buy* any, but I do have a Palm Pre 2 as my current primary phone.

Gary
14 years ago

Did you end up buying any HP/Palm devices?

Michael Kwan
14 years ago

I didn’t *buy* any, but I do have a Palm Pre 2 as my current primary phone.

SgtAdam
SgtAdam
14 years ago

This is pretty terrible. I was about to get an HP TouchPad for super cheap from work, but why bother now.
I actually want to thank HP. Now I’ll buy the Galaxy Tab 10.1 when it comes out instead.

SgtAdam
SgtAdam
14 years ago

This is pretty terrible. I was about to get an HP TouchPad for super cheap from work, but why bother now.
I actually want to thank HP. Now I’ll buy the Galaxy Tab 10.1 when it comes out instead.

SgtAdam
SgtAdam
14 years ago

This is pretty terrible. I was about to get an HP TouchPad for super cheap from work, but why bother now.
I actually want to thank HP. Now I’ll buy the Galaxy Tab 10.1 when it comes out instead.

SgtAdam
SgtAdam
14 years ago

This is pretty terrible. I was about to get an HP TouchPad for super cheap from work, but why bother now.
I actually want to thank HP. Now I’ll buy the Galaxy Tab 10.1 when it comes out instead.

Anonymous
Anonymous
14 years ago

I used a Pre 3 a few months back and the interface is pretty user friendly in ways iOS and Android aren’t. Everything was so easy to do and it was clear what you were doing.

The hardware side of things were not spectacular but the software was great. It was too bad HP didn’t put much effort imo into development and advertising of webOS devices. Also third party devs didn’t quite catch on.

RIP webOS

Anonymous
Anonymous
14 years ago

I used a Pre 3 a few months back and the interface is pretty user friendly in ways iOS and Android aren’t. Everything was so easy to do and it was clear what you were doing.

The hardware side of things were not spectacular but the software was great. It was too bad HP didn’t put much effort imo into development and advertising of webOS devices. Also third party devs didn’t quite catch on.

RIP webOS

Anonymous
Anonymous
14 years ago

I used a Pre 3 a few months back and the interface is pretty user friendly in ways iOS and Android aren’t. Everything was so easy to do and it was clear what you were doing.

The hardware side of things were not spectacular but the software was great. It was too bad HP didn’t put much effort imo into development and advertising of webOS devices. Also third party devs didn’t quite catch on.

RIP webOS

Rhys Pritchard
14 years ago

I picked up the TouchPad for cheap and love the darn thing.  The WebOS is nice and a refreshing twist on the standard iOS and Android (neither are bad however, just always the same).  I plan on keeping it and having fun with it, I mean why not.

And for the record, HP plans to keep on with WebOS but only time will tell if this holds any truth..

“WebOS GBU VP Stephen DeWitt made it clear that HP intends to continue to work on webOS and likely intends to license it. DeWitt was adamant, saying several times ‘We are not walking away from webOS.'”

http://thisismynext.com/2011/08/18/h…usive-details/

I’m surprised HP gave up on it so soon.  It’s like they expected to make money right out the gate.  All I can say is they were crazy with all the competition to assume that.

Rhys Pritchard
14 years ago

I picked up the TouchPad for cheap and love the darn thing.  The WebOS is nice and a refreshing twist on the standard iOS and Android (neither are bad however, just always the same).  I plan on keeping it and having fun with it, I mean why not.

And for the record, HP plans to keep on with WebOS but only time will tell if this holds any truth..

“WebOS GBU VP Stephen DeWitt made it clear that HP intends to continue to work on webOS and likely intends to license it. DeWitt was adamant, saying several times ‘We are not walking away from webOS.'”

http://thisismynext.com/2011/08/18/h…usive-details/

I’m surprised HP gave up on it so soon.  It’s like they expected to make money right out the gate.  All I can say is they were crazy with all the competition to assume that.

Rhys Pritchard
14 years ago

I picked up the TouchPad for cheap and love the darn thing.  The WebOS is nice and a refreshing twist on the standard iOS and Android (neither are bad however, just always the same).  I plan on keeping it and having fun with it, I mean why not.

And for the record, HP plans to keep on with WebOS but only time will tell if this holds any truth..

“WebOS GBU VP Stephen DeWitt made it clear that HP intends to continue to work on webOS and likely intends to license it. DeWitt was adamant, saying several times ‘We are not walking away from webOS.'”

http://thisismynext.com/2011/08/18/h…usive-details/

I’m surprised HP gave up on it so soon.  It’s like they expected to make money right out the gate.  All I can say is they were crazy with all the competition to assume that.

Frankie
Frankie
14 years ago

My advice to you is buy it super cheap if you can. The Web OS is great and in some way better than IOS and Android. Just because HP is giving up doesn’t mean there is no support( by law they have to support their products for at least 3 years unless they go bankrup and we all know that’s not gonna happen). You’ll end up buying a tablet that’s as good or better than iPad or any Android tablet at much cheaper price.

Frankie
Frankie
14 years ago

My advice to you is buy it super cheap if you can. The Web OS is great and in some way better than IOS and Android. Just because HP is giving up doesn’t mean there is no support( by law they have to support their products for at least 3 years unless they go bankrup and we all know that’s not gonna happen). You’ll end up buying a tablet that’s as good or better than iPad or any Android tablet at much cheaper price.

Aleksandar
14 years ago

HP stopped being an innovative engineering company many years ago.  Scott McNeally called them once – “They are a great printer company.”…  HP has become a service organization – they will even service your Mercedes Benz if you let them…

Aleksandar
14 years ago

HP stopped being an innovative engineering company many years ago.  Scott McNeally called them once – “They are a great printer company.”…  HP has become a service organization – they will even service your Mercedes Benz if you let them…

Aleksandar
14 years ago

HP stopped being an innovative engineering company many years ago.  Scott McNeally called them once – “They are a great printer company.”…  HP has become a service organization – they will even service your Mercedes Benz if you let them…

Aleksandar
14 years ago

HP stopped being an innovative engineering company many years ago.  Scott McNeally called them once – “They are a great printer company.”…  HP has become a service organization – they will even service your Mercedes Benz if you let them…

Ryansgold1
Ryansgold1
14 years ago

Thats why i decided to stay with the originator. The rest are just knock offs. When will ppl learn.

Ryansgold1
Ryansgold1
14 years ago

Thats why i decided to stay with the originator. The rest are just knock offs. When will ppl learn.

Anonymous
Anonymous
14 years ago

The lost of a competitor would bring a smile to Steve Jobs, but for us, consumers, we lost.  Monopoly or duopoly is not good for the industry, and even worse for end users.

And there is no clear cut between the “original” or “knock offs”.  Good ideas would be replicated.   The iOS 5’s “new features” including Notification Center and iMessage clearly borrowed a page from other devices.   So having more competitors and more players would keep Apple on its toes, and force them to improve and bring other good ideas into iOS.

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