HP says it's in the smartphone market, after all
By Nilay Patel 
posted June 3rd 2010 5:57PM
posted June 3rd 2010 5:57PM
HP CEO Mark Hurd certainly caused a few sad faces yesterday when he told investors and analysts that HP "didn't buy Palm to be in the smartphone business," and now the company is trying to walk that back a little -- rest easy, folks, because there are definitely more webOS smartphones on the way. Apparently what Hurd was really trying to say was that HP is excited about using webOS as the foundation for all types of smaller web-connected devices, and smartphones are just a part of that universe -- a part HP intends to pursue. Phew. Now, can we see these new webOS devices, please? Here's the full statement from HP:When we look at the market, we see an array of interconnected devices, including tablets, printers, and of course, smartphones. We believe webOS can become the backbone for many of HP's small form factor devices, and we expect to expand webOS's footprint beyond just the smartphone market, all while leveraging our financial strength, scale, and global reach to grow in smartphones.
this still doesn't sound like ringing endorsement of a smartphone centered strategy for webos from hp. Which is crazy. They keep talking about building this great platform, but it's not like customers are going to buy a smartphone or tablet because it runs the same software as their printers. They might buy a printer or tablet because it runs on the same platform as their phone.
@ACMartin ding ding ding - we have a winner.
Thank goodness!!
....... Ok..... I guess we can be friiends again..... BUT if you ever pull a stunt like that again I'm sewing your head to the carpet Mr. CEO.
please!!!!! for me, will you please not destroy the beautiful graphical architecture of web OS!!!!!!!!
The backpedel in full effect!
God, I hope we see more WebOS on cell phones. Unfortunately the hardware of the Pre was not all that great. But the simplisity and beauty of WebOS is amazing. You really have to use it to appreciate it. Put WebOS on an EVO/Droid/HD2 style hardware... and you would have the sexiest phone out there. Long live WebOS!
Well, that sure was one hell of a rollercoaster ride. Mark Hurd (and Randall Stephenson for that matter) is still a douche bag.
I hope HP will do the best of the situation, and do some great phones.. but they should licens webOS.
1 manufactor will have a lot of problems trying to carry a OS of their own.
Nokia dont need an help.
Samsung has Bada.
But then you have the bunch... LG, SE, Motorola, HTC, Asus, Acer... they will probably work with anyone that has something to offer...
Good to hear they're still developing phones.
I wonder if they will have any big announcements tomorrow, on their preDevCamp in Baltimore. After all the original Pre was released just before Apples iPhone 3G. So it wouldn't be anything new that Palm tries to steal Apples thunder by making an announcement that will make the coming iPhone look a little less impressive(not that Apple can't disappoint on their own)
@justjc
LOL. I really enjoyed your comment.
I dont see how people misunderstood his first statement. All he said was that smartphones werent the reason they bought Palm... that doesnt mean anything more than what it says. If HP plays their cards right with webOS, they'll be the next Apple.
I think the CEO's actually read engadget... :P
Knew they were lying. You don't go out and buy palm in a tough bidding war against every other top company in the industry to not get involved in the fast growing smartphone market.
There's a pill for bipolar disorder. Someone needs to hand these pills to this guy
All I can say is I just got a Pre Plus today for free with a free Touchstone and I freaking love this thing! Thanks for the app Engadget and go webOS!
-- sent from my Palm Pre
I'm a long-term Sprint customer and an even longer-term Palm user. HP needs to announce something soon or else I'm going to switch to Android and get an HTC EVO 4G, but I'd love to give WebOS a try! At least drop the price on the 1st generation Palm Pre!!!
This might be in response to investors 'jumping ship'.
Good luck to them, I have admired the design of the WebOS, and how it works/functions ever since Palm first revealed it.
Hell yes, i'm getting the evo but keeping my pre as a secondary line, now i won't have the address my phones as "old and busted" and "new hottness". My pre will be simply "old". Maybe my evo and pre will have sex and produce a phone that will decimate all. I can dream can't I.
web os is def the way to go.
I can now retain my hp stock that statement scared me 4 a moment lol
I'm curious to see the smartphones HP has in store next year for us.
Nice to see them clarify the missing "just" from Hurd's statement...not "just" smartphones. Nice to hear them actually acknowledge that they are going to be in the smartphone business, not just web enabled devices! Sure, it would really rock to be able to flush the toilet after my three year old and click "frozen" for the toast my six year old just put in from my smartphone...but it would be from my SMARTPHONE!
It's kind of like voting for a bill before you vote against it.
Question .... is there going to be a webos "ipaq"??