JOIN US HP has plenty riding on the event, which will showcase the webOS mobile operating system — the most valuable asset the company acquired when it bought handheld pioneer Palm last summer for $1.2 billion. HP plans to roll out webOS in a number of products across its portfolio. Analysts agree that Palm’s software platform is well-designed, but caution that is no guarantee of success. HP is a latecomer to a tablet market dominated by Apple’s iPad and bristling with competition.
WebOS received positive reviews when it made its debut in 2009. But the first device running the software, Palm’s Pre smartphone, was hampered by poor marketing.
By acquiring webOS, HP put itself in the select group of hardware makers with their own computing platforms. By owning rather than licensing the software, it assures itself total control of its devices and arguably can offer a more seamless user experience.