HP donates WebOS system code to open source developers
22.05.12
Analysts said the decision secured the platform's future, at least in the short to medium term.
"Given how successful HP was in selling off their tablet computers cheaply when they scrapped the platform we always suspected there would be some sort of u-turn," said Chris Green, principal technology analyst at Davies Murphy Group Europe.
"However we still don't think it will become a major platform to rival Google's Android and Apple's iOS. It will appeal to many generic tablet makers out there - but its long term future will probably be to power HP printers, and other peripheral devices."
Colin Gillis, senior tech analyst at BGC Partners, said HP had ultimately missed an opportunity to disrupt the market with a line of mobile computers powered by its own software.
"The real winner here is Microsoft," he said.
"It no longer has to contend with what would have been another viable operating system as it prepares to launch its Windows 8 tablets."
Source: BBC News