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Topic: Mobile OS

RIM should buy webOS from HP

Summary: HP is supposedly going to tell the webOS group what will happen with them in an all-hands meeting today.

James Kendrick

By for Mobile News |

Working in the webOS business unit at HP must be one of the most depressing places to work, given the uncertainty over the future of the platform. Rumors are appearing that the company has called an all-hands meeting today to explain to the troops what the company will be doing with webOS and the business group.

That could involve shutting the platform down completely, or selling it off. Oracle is likely the buyer according to Reuters, but that wouldn't do much for the employees. Oracle is not in the device business so most likely if it bought webOS from HP for a few hundred million dollars it would be for the IP portfolio. It would be a shame to see webOS disappear just so someone could have the patents behind it.

The company that should buy webOS from HP is none other than Research in Motion (RIM). The BlackBerry maker has been floundering of late, and its PlayBook tablet a dismal failure in the market. Then there's the confusion over the QNX, or BBX, operating system that will power BlackBerrys in the future. Why not just buy webOS from HP at a bargain basement price and have an instant OS, and a good one at that? Doesn't "BlackBerry Synergy" have a nice ring to it? Sure it does.

Topics: Mobile OS, Hewlett-Packard, Operating Systems

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30 comments
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  • RE: RIM should buy webOS from HP

    Sad to say but WebOS was dead long before HP bought them. Rim who is currently bleeding from all areas would have to be drunk on that good Canadian Beer to do something that stupid. Oracle on the other hand wants more leverage in the form of patents so I can see that making sense.<br><br>Dam, I knew I should have sold my $99 touchpad as soon as I got it.
    rwalrond
    Reply Vote

    • RE: RIM should buy webOS from HP

      @rwalrond

      I'd say you hit it dead on.
      NoAxToGrind
      Reply Vote

    • +1...

      @rwalrond.. but even tweedle dumb and tweedle dumber co-CEO's at RIM aren't that stupid..
      doctorSpoc
      Reply Vote

      • RE: RIM should buy webOS from HP

        I can't see HP giving up the patents, because I think they'll make a Win8 tablet at some point in the future. That's really the part that HP should keep.

        I think RIM buying it is a smart plan. They are years behind with BBX and QNX and this would catch them up. It positions RIM in a much better place then they are now.
        bmacfarland
        Reply Vote

  • RE: RIM should buy webOS from HP

    While I fully hope that HP sells WebOS to someone that can actually progress the system, RIM is the wrong company to do that. They already have two OS's which they can neither develop or make competitive, much less survivable. And from all that I have heard, QNX could be a winner if it was really supported and developed.

    Sadly, I think that the only buyer that would actually mean a possible future for WebOS is HTC, and I don't think they are really interested.
    jglopic
    Reply Vote

    • RE: RIM should buy webOS from HP

      @jglopic QNX is quite a good OS. It's got really no market for tablets, but it's been in use for years in places you'd probably never guess such as slot machines. Hit a casino with computerized slot machines, chances are you're seeing QNX at work. It's used in other embedded systems too, microwave ovens for instance.
      darylsonnier
      Reply Vote

  • RE: RIM should buy webOS from HP

    Google should buy it for any patent protection it might help with Android, AND integrate the best features into Android.
    markalanlewis
    Reply Vote

    • RE: RIM should buy webOS from HP

      @markalanlewis
      I agree, but I'm sure M$ and Apple would instigate the DOJ against it.
      The Linux Geek
      Reply Vote

  • RE: RIM should buy webOS from HP

    I dont think there is any confussion on BBX. Roadmap was clearly defined at Blackberry Devcon not long ago.
    WebOS doesn't have a place in RIM's product ecosystem.
    SinfoCOMAR
    Reply Vote

  • RE: RIM should buy webOS from HP

    Nah, their New OS is much better than WebOS in Terms of performance and WebOS would only drag them down.
    slickjim
    Reply Vote

  • I doubt shareholders would let them

    After the complete waste of time that was the purchase of QNX, and after BBOS5 and 6 letdowns, I'd bet any shareholders that haven't already jumped ship would probably do so on the announcement that they would buy up webOS.

    webOS is pretty nice though. If they could port the shell over to a Linux kernel, it would probably find a home on tablets currently running Android for those that don't like Android's fugly UI.
    Joe_Raby
    Reply Vote

    • RE: RIM should buy webOS from HP

      @Joe_Raby webOS is based on a Linux kernel already.
      JeffGr
      Reply Vote

    • RE: RIM should buy webOS from HP

      @Joe_Raby webOS is built on a linux kernel already.
      benklop
      Reply Vote

  • RE: RIM should buy webOS from HP

    I wouldn't be surprised if Google bought webOS. Their main UI designer, Mattias Duartes, was in charge of the UI design of webOS.

    In my opinion, webOS is a very elegent mobile OS, moreso than Google's Android actually. I'd buy a webOS over an Android device in heartbeat assuming the ecosystem was nurtured to the point of being competitive.

    On top of all that, it would give Google a much stronger patent arsenal against litigation

    All the other companies mentioned who are in the running, Amazon is the only company that can do webOS justice.

    Forget RIM. They have their heads up their a***es right now.

    Oracle & IBM only care about patents.

    HTC, while good at making handsets, hasn't proved they're capable of developing an entire ecosystem of services and developer tools to nurture the platform.
    smulji
    Reply Vote

  • Android Could Use Some WebOS Features

    I'm not saying Google to buy WebOS to replace Android, but after being an avid WebOS converted to Android user, there are some things that Android can definitely integrate. The first and most obvious is the card feature that tells you what apps you have open. Moving from one app to another in Android is ok if you're opening a new app. But going between 2 open apps is not the smoothest transition. With the WebOS you can flip between the 2, 3, 4 or 5+ 'cards' or apps all day and you know exactly what's there and open. Slide the card up and the app closes, as oppose to hitting the menu/exit to close. This sure beats repressing the icon or widget to reopen an app on the current Android.

    The "just type" feature was perfected on WebOS and while Android does have this feature, it isn't as smooth. Well maybe smooth isn't the right word, maybe categorized for the most user friendly experience is the correct term. WebOS shows you exactly what's related to the phrase you're searching (or contact) and is layed out in an easier fashion.

    Those are the 2 best features of WebOS that I think Android could integrate that would make it an even better OS. To do that, they probably would need the patents for WebOS so it isn't out of the question that Google would be a good buyer for WebOS.
    d2012
    Reply Vote

  • Android Could Use WebOS' best features

    I'm not saying Google to buy WebOS to replace Android, but after being an avid WebOS converted to Android user, there are some things that Android can definitely integrate. The first and most obvious is the card feature that tells you what apps you have open. Moving from one app to another in Android is ok if you're opening a new app. But going between 2 open apps is not the smoothest transition. With the WebOS you can flip between the 2, 3, 4 or 5+ 'cards' or apps all day and you know exactly what's there and open. Slide the card up and the app closes, as oppose to hitting the menu/exit to close. This sure beats repressing the icon or widget to reopen an app on the current Android.

    The "just type" feature was perfected on WebOS and while Android does have this feature, it isn't as smooth. Well maybe smooth isn't the right word, maybe categorized for the most user friendly experience is the correct term. WebOS shows you exactly what's related to the phrase you're searching (or contact) and is layed out in an easier fashion.

    Those are the 2 best features of WebOS that I think Android could integrate that would make it an even better OS. To do that, they probably would need the patents for WebOS so it isn't out of the question that Google would be a good buyer for WebOS.
    d2012
    Reply Vote

  • Android Could Use WebOS's Best Features

    I'm not saying Google to buy WebOS to replace Android, but after being an avid WebOS converted to Android user, there are some things that Android can definitely integrate. The first and most obvious is the card feature that tells you what apps you have open. Moving from one app to another in Android is ok if you're opening a new app. But going between 2 open apps is not the smoothest transition. With the WebOS you can flip between the 2, 3, 4 or 5+ 'cards' or apps all day and you know exactly what's there and open. Slide the card up and the app closes, as oppose to hitting the menu/exit to close. This sure beats repressing the icon or widget to reopen an app on the current Android.

    The "just type" feature was perfected on WebOS and while Android does have this feature, it isn't as smooth. Well maybe smooth isn't the right word, maybe categorized for the most user friendly experience is the correct term. WebOS shows you exactly what's related to the phrase you're searching (or contact) and is layed out in an easier fashion.

    Those are the 2 best features of WebOS that I think Android could integrate that would make it an even better OS. To do that, they probably would need the patents for WebOS so it isn't out of the question that Google would be a good buyer for WebOS.
    d2012
    Reply Vote

  • RE: RIM should buy webOS from HP

    Apple should buy it. I know it does not make sense but it would be a great blog post!
    paul2011
    Reply Vote

  • I think James Kendrick should buy webos

    James you seem to be the only person left on earth who cares about webos. Please buy it and put an end to this senseless series of postings trying to rationalize why various uninterested other companies should buy it. No it makes no sense for RIM to switch from one failing ecosystem-less outdated os to another. You buy them and be very happy with your purchase.
    Johnny Vegas
    Reply Vote

  • I thought Amazon would make sense....

    so they don't have to deal with Android down the road.
    CyberGuerilla
    Reply Vote
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