HP/Palm webOS 2.0 Platform to Take On iOS Later This Year?

After HP mentioned something completely different a couple months ago, we are now hearing that they are planning to take one of their acquired Palm properties, webOS, and is directly pitting it agains Googles and Apples ever-so-popular Android and iOS platforms with their Windows 7 demoed slate. The Windows version of the tablet computer is said to be targeted to the enterprise opposed to the typical consumer.

HP (Hewlett Packard), who is the largest producer of Windows-operated machines, presented their HP Slate PC early in the year alongside Microsofts CEO Steve Ballmer which ran Windows 7. The move was scene widely as a direct challenge to Apples yet to be released iPad. However, as the iPad got off to an alarming start, the HP Slate project seemed to dissolve as a marketable product. Then HP bought was what was left of Palm, sparking new rumors that they were going to axe Windows Mobile from there offerings altogether. Later Mark Hurd, CEO of HP, stated that they bought the company solely for their properties and patents.

We are not going to spend billions of dollars trying to go into the smartphone business. That doesnt in any way make any sense. We didnt buy Palm to be in the smartphone business, and I tell people that, but it doesnt seem to resonate well. We bought it for the IP [intellectual property]. The webOS is one of the two ground-up pieces of software that is built as a web operating environment.”

However, HP went on the record recently announcing that it would be using its acquired webOS platform to power their future smartphone lineup. This confirms the fact that the company is completely abandoning their Windows Phone 7 approach, which would coincide with the fact that their name was missing from the group who intend to release Windows Phone 7 devices. It also contradicts what Mark Hurd stated what the reason behind the Palm acquisition.

The world has seen Apples iPad and iOS platform soar in every area it has ventured, from people continuously lining up at RadioShacks, Best Buys, AT&T, Apple Stores and even Wal-Marts across the United States when shipments come in, to iPads completely selling-out all over the world. However, in the next coming months, Cupertino will see some more companys who are looking into getting their hands dirty in the mobile computing landscape. HP pushing their webOS initiative with a collection of devices, Googles expected Android-powered tablet and Microsoft and their Windows Phone 7 software. Competition is definitely beefing up for Apple. Hopefully, this is not the same too little, too late situation experienced with the iPhone, for the competition’s sake that is.

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