Will an HP WebOS license deal matter?

HP, mobile, HP TouchPad, tablets, Operating Systems, WebOS
Bloomberg reported today that HP is talking to companies about licensing its WebOS operating system. What this means, essentially is that instead of just running exclusively on HP products, it would run on other company’s products — possibly competing products — as well. Is this a good strategy for HP and does it matter?

HP certainly thinks that mobile is still in play. In a Fast Company article earlier this week, Phil McKinney, president and CTO of HP’s personal systems group had this to say about the mobile competition. “Everyone’s trying to make it seem the conclusion has been decided. We’re still in the top of the first inning.”

What would you expect him to say — that he’s giving up? Not likely. Like any good baseball manager, HP is going to keep pulling strings until the last pitch and see what happens — as they should.

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