Looking to expand the reach of the WebOS platform, HP CEO Leo Apotheker says the company is in talks with multiple companies to put the smartphone OS smartphone platform on third-party handsets.
From the Bloomberg report:
“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
.
Apothaker wouldn’t specify who he was talking to, or when such a licensing deal would come to fruition, but Bloomberg has multiple sources telling them that Samsung are actively involved in these discussions.
A partnership with HP would allow Samsung, which uses Android for its Galaxy Tab tablet computers, to customise 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.
Customized OSes are KIND OF blah, but HP should still consider making a deal like this because a Samsung handset is still lightyears better than whatever silly hardware HP is throwing WebOS on. [Bloomberg via Slashgear via TheNextWeb]