HP Gives Up WebOS For Smartphones and Tablets ... PCs Next To Go?

When HP bought Palm in 2010 for 1.2 billion dollars, it was largely motivated by the prospect of getting its hands on the WebOS platform.  Now though, the company has changed tack and totally abandoned the software.  At the same time, HP has also announced its intention to spin off its Personal Systems Group ... or in other words, stop making computers!

HP sounded the death knell for WebOS in just two lines, announcing ''plans to ... 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,'' opening the door to a potential future sale of WebOS.

When we reviewed HP's TouchPad tablet, we said that ''with an OS full of good design and interactive ideas, the TouchPad is sometimes unable to match up to the demands of webOS. The product is saved by its OS, the promise of further development and the foundation of a rich, multi-platform ecosystem.''

Well, the promise of future development has just gone up in smoke.  As a result, we've adjusted our conclusion, and the score has headed south as a result.  We imagine that HP will do the same to the price of the Touchpad, which has already fallen in the US.

It seems that the Palm Pixi and Palm Pre Plus phones are on their way out too.

PCs to go the same way?

The future of the firm's PC division is given equally little attention, with the statement explaining ''plans to announce that its board of directors has authorized the exploration of strategic alternatives for its Personal Systems Group (PSG). 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 other words, the firm's board is leaving all the options open, including getting rid of the PC division, in whole or in part, despite being market leaders since 2006.

Another development in the transition of HP is the confirmation of the purchase by HP, for 10 billion dollars, of Autonomy Corporation, a specialist provider of software and services for business customers.

With all these changes, it's hard not to remember Steve Jobs' comments about the 'post-PC' era during the launch of the iPad 2, as well as more recent comments from one of the pioneers of the IBM PC, Mark Dean.


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