Hewlett-Packard is in talks to license WebOS software: Apotheker

NEW YORK: Hewlett-Packard, the world’s largest maker of personal computers, is in talks to license its webOS mobile software, Chief Executive Officer Leo Apotheker said in an interview. “We are talking to a number of companies,” Apotheker said in Beijing, declining to elaborate on details. “I can share with you that a number of companies have expressed interest. We are continuing our conversations.”

WebOS would give hardware makers a choice beyond Google’s Android operating system and Microsoft’s Windows software as they seek to challenge Google’s grip on the smartphone and tablet PC markets. For HP, which cut its sales forecast by $1 billion last month, licensing the operating system would help the company strengthen its software operations as PC sales slump. Apotheker declined to give a timeframe for deciding on WebOS partners, saying “there is no time pressure to do this.”

Samsung Electronics Co. held talks to use WebOS in its smartphones, according to three people with knowledge of the discussions. Apotheker declined to say whether HP and Samsung are having discussions, as did Jason Kim, a Samsung spokesman. A partnership with HP would allow Samsung, which uses Android for its Galaxy Tab tablet computers, to customize devices amid speculation that Google may restrict modifications for phones that use Android, said one of the people, who declined to be named because the talks are private.

GOOGLE, SAMSUNG

Randall Sarafa, a spokesman for Google, referred to an April on the company’s blog denying Android design restrictions, and declined to comment further. “Samsung will continue to strengthen its relationship with Google to provide ultimate values to customers,” said Samsung’s Kim. HP is open to licensing its operating system if third- parties offer design and development improvements, said Jon Rubinstein, the executive in charge of developing webOS, in an interview this month. He declined to say if the company was in discussions with major handset and tablet manufacturers.

Apotheker, who told employees last month to brace for “another tough quarter” in the July period, said in March that HP plans to put WebOS into a broader range of products and ramp up output to more than 100 million devices a year. Android may have recently experienced some defections among developers and consumers. In a June 20 report, Needham & Co. analyst said Android’ US market share declined sequentially in the March quarter to 49.5%, from 52.4%. He predicted it will continue to decline.