Facebook is the best buyer for webOS (analyst)

Jefferies analyst Peter Misek this morning wrote a research note to clients about who would be the best buyer for Hewlett-Packard’s WebOS software business. There have been many possible suitors named by industry experts, including Amazon, Baidu, Huawei, HTC, Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, and ZTE. Misek believes, however, Facebook would be the best buyer.

Misek thinks none of the other companies are likely to bid on what HP is offering. Here’s a relevant excerpt of the note:

Based on our analysis of prospective buyers and our checks, we believe Facebook is the best fit. Due to Facebook’s scale, developer community, and movement towards media (e.g., music) and communications (Messenger), it is possible that an acquisition of an OS asset like this could be a good option. Checks with developers indicate that they would support a potential Facebook OS, and industry sources have noted Facebook’s historic interest in a mobile OS or heavily influencing one.

This isn’t the first time I heard of such a proposition. Last time, I wrote up my thoughts about it in an article titled “Should Facebook buy webOS from HP?” Here is the conclusion I came to (you can read the whole piece for more details):

In summary, buying webOS simply doesn’t make sense for Facebook. The company would spend more time and effort rewriting the operating system and maintaining useless parts of it than it would take to simply write its own Facebook OS.

My stance hasn’t changed. What do you think?

See also:

• Facebook planning at least seven more acquisitions this year
• Should Facebook buy webOS from HP?
• Facebook acquires interactive iPad book maker Push Pop Press
• Facebook acquires feature phone app maker Snaptu (and then Facebook launches Facebook for Every Phone app)
• Facebook acquires Beluga, a BBM alternative (and then Facebook launches Facebook Messenger app for Android, iPhone)