Just a few months ago, webOS mobile operating system seemed
to be outdated after its owner, HP, abolished it together with TouchPad tablet and Pre 3 mobile phone. At this
time, in an absolute move, the company claims that the operating system will be
freely available for all by making it become an open source.
This move was motivated by the revenue of renewed TouchPads
on eBay, which convinced HP that there are still needs for tablet and webOS
that the company obtained when buying PDA, Palm pioneer in 2010.
WebOS was abandoned in non-completion after HP quit
producing WebOS-based hardware in 2011’s summer. After that
claim, TouchPad’s price reduced to £89 to barter to customers,
at that time the needs were so high that a few retailers’ websites were collapsed
due to a great number of people accessing.
The revenue of renewed TouchPads on
eBay at America shows that the needs are still high, with all tablets sold out
with a price of $99 within
just a few hours.
HP’s claim that WebOS is
freely available for everyone has been welcomed by TouchPad’s
owners and open source community. However, some details – such as which open
source will be chosen – have not been solved yet.
HP’s move will allow WebOS to compete equally
with Android operating system, which has been become an open source
since bought by Google.
Like all open source projects, WebOS will
invite everyone to contribute codes and fix bugs. The software can also be
shifted to new devices.
HP hopes the move will encourage third-party producers to
design WebOS-based devices, but still do not know whether the software pulls
producers off Android OS.
‘WebOS is the only basis designed in the beginning to
become mobile, connect to cloud, and have ability to expand,’ addressed Meg Whitman, HP”s president and CEO, at the time of claiming. ‘By
contributing this innovation, HP will release creativity of open source
community to improve a generation of new apps and devices.’
Why does HP
return to the basic definition?
HP flabbergasted technology world last year when the CEO of
that time, Leo Apotheker, revealed of a completely new strategy for the
world’s biggest PC producer. In August, Apotheker claimed HP bought Autonomy, a UK’s software company, quit doing business of WebOS devices, and considered selling PC
part.
This shocking announce causes HP’s shares to reduce nearly
25% within just one night. After 10 years piloting the company – and with share
price lower than 40% compared to the time in which he was promoted – Apotheker
was replaced his position of CEO by Meg
Whitman, who had been eBay’s CEO
before, in Sept, 2011.
Under Whitman’s direction, the company revalued Apotheker’s
plans and decided to keep the business of Personal Systems Group (PSG).
‘Keeping PSG in HP is right’, asserted Whitman.
‘HP evaluated objectively strategic, financial, and operational impacts of
quitting PSG. The clear fact after analyzed was that keeping PSH in HP was right
for customers and partners, for shareholders, and for staff.’
The claim brought necessary belief in PC manufacturing
market. Though many analyzers believe that global PC market is nearly obtaining
saturation, it is still valuable with 175.1 billion dollars. HP occupies a rather big part
of the market, with market share nearly 18% in 2010.
The news HP will make WebOS basis become open source and
can manufacture new computers is a surprising thing. We still have to wait so
as to see whether it has enough strength to challenge Android and
Apple, but the focus put in company’s hardware at least brought HP to a more
familiar field.
PC market
share (2010)
HP: 17.9%
Dell: 12.9%
Acer: 12%
Lenovo: 9.7%
Toshiba: 5.4%
Other: 42.10%
HP occupied 18% of PC market share in 2010 and was still
the dominant force.
