According to the OEM, this will give HP “significant headway into one of technology’s fastest-growth segments with Palm’s innovative webOS platform and family of smartphones”.
Under Jon Rubinstein, former Palm Chairman and CEO, the Palm global business unit will report to Todd Bradley, Executive Vice President of HP’s Personal Systems Group.
Palm will be responsible for webOS software development and webOS based hardware products, from a robust smartphone roadmap to future slate PCs and netbooks.
Bradley said: “With webOS, HP will deliver its customers a unique and compelling experience across smartphones and other mobility products. This allows us the opportunity to fully engage in growing our smartphone family offering and the footprint of webOS.”
Rubinstein added: “With HP’s full backing and global strengths, I’m confident that webOS will be able to reach its full potential. This agreement will accelerate the development of this incredible platform with new resources, scale and support from a world-respected brand.”