HP weighing sale of webOS unit

[Dover]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - Hewlett-Packard Co is looking to sell Palm's webOS mobile software platform, a deal that could fetch hundreds of millions of dollars but less than the $1.2 billion that HP paid last year, four sources close to the matter said.

Advised by Bank of America Merrill Lynch, HP is trying to figure out how to recoup its investment in Palm, viewed by many analysts and investors as an expensive foray into the smartphone market that has not paid off.

Several technology companies have expressed an interest in buying the division, which is seen as attractive for its patents, the sources said.

Amazon.com Inc, Research In Motion, IBM, Oracle Corp and Intel Corp are considered to be among the companies likely to be interested in the asset, industry sources said.


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/08/us-hewlettpackard-webos-idUSTRE7A66UM20111108

[phasma ex machina]

1. Palm, bright hand, R.I.P. nt

[TheWraith]

5. Bright hand? Might I ask why you use that phrase? nt

[Initech]

2. Picking up Palm was a huge mistake for both companies.

I love my Web OS tablet, though...

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

6. Take it up with Bono...

Elevation Partners insisted on Palm selling itself.

[SoapBox]

3. I'm still using my Handspring Visor Prism...

which sadly, is losing it battery.

I will also miss my Palm phone, when it dies.

[AtheistCrusader]

4. I'll give them fifty bucks for it.

Even though I'll probably lose money on the deal.

[ObaMania]

7. Would be nice.

The Touchpad has hundreds of useful apps (hear that, Apple?) and it would be great if there were a sanctioned group of paid developers to continue coding them.

I got a Touchpad during the big fire sale months ago and love it. WebOS is the best OS of the tablet bunch. Heck, I haven't touched my iPad since picking up the Touchpad.

[Delphinus]

8. Just received

the Touchpad as a gift - really like it. Can see me using that a whole lot more than my desktop.