HP has suffered disappointment with its webOS mobile platform after a $1.66 billion decision to fade out the operation. There has been speculation and rumor surrounding HP’s options, but in recent report from Mashable, Meg Whitman CEO has announced that in the next two weeks the webOS’s fate will be unveiled.
Furthering the complications were findings that around 600 staff have still been left working in webOS. After the release of its TouchPad tablet back in the summer of this year, HP suddenly announced that they would no longer continue making any smartphones using the OS.
There were rumors that possible buyers including Amazon and Oracle, could be in the picture to take over the OS, even talks of HP keeping the rights. However there is still to be confirmation of any of these possibilities.
The webOS platform looked as though it would get its answer last month, with Whitman announcing a meeting with all the relevant staff. Unfortunately nothing came from this and the platforms fate still hung in the balance. There are still believers out there that speak of a system good enough to chase the heels of smartphone and tablet giants Apple and Google. But the belief is that large investment and enterprise are what is needed if webOS is to get anywhere near up to speed.
Do you think that the HP webOS platform has what it takes to challenge the likes of Google and Apple with the right backing?