“Hewlett-Packard Co. is in talks to license its WebOS mobile software, Chief Executive Officer Leo Apotheker said in an interview,” Edmond Lococo, Jun Yang, Olga Kharif, and Cliff Edwards report for Bloomberg. “‘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.'”
“WebOS would give hardware makers a choice beyond Google Inc. (GOOG)’s Android operating system and Microsoft Corp.’s Windows software as they seek to challenge Apple Inc. (AAPL)’s grip on the smartphone and tablet-computer markets,” Lococo, Yang, Kharif, and Edwards report. “‘The reality is that Google and Apple are in the driving seat here and consumers are voting with their dollars,’ said Shaw Wu, a San Francisco-based analyst for Sterne Agee & Leach Inc. He recommends buying HP shares and doesn’t own the stock. ‘The problem for HP here is how do they license it without competing with their own products?'”
Lococo, Yang, Kharif, and Edwards report, “Samsung Electronics Co. held talks to use WebOS in its smartphones, according to three people with knowledge of the discussions… Android may have recently experienced some defections among developers and consumers. In a June 20 report, Needham & Co. analyst Charlie Wolf said Android’s U.S. market share declined sequentially in the March quarter to 49.5 percent, from 52.4 percent. He predicted it will continue to decline, as more consumers opt for the Apple’s iPhone.”
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MacDailyNews Take: If so, good news for Apple: The more OSes in the marketplace, the more confusion. This benefits Apple as consumers will gravitate even more to the leader with the vibrant ecosystem offering the most apps, third-party accessories, and features such as AirPlay.