Amazon Might Buy the webOS from HP Discussion

[Ed Hardy]

Ever since HP announced that it was abruptly ending production of smartphones and tablets running webOS, there have been a series of unconfirmed reports saying that this company or that is interested in buying this operating system. The latest of these is Amazon.

Read the full content of this Article: Amazon Might Buy the webOS from HP

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[Hook]

I think this is the worst possibilty. Amazon is not going to produce smartphones and tablets except as content delivery systems. They would be interested in WebOS a) because they are competitiors with Google and b)the Patents to handle Apple.

I don't think they would end up producing anything like a robust line of WebOS phones and tablets. It will be an Amazon store in your pocket.

[tmedvick]

I think the only success stories in the tablet market will be content providers. I think Mark Hurd's vision was to make HP content provider.

Amazon is the best and worst option for WebOS. Any company without content would be foolish. Amazon will likely strip WebOS down to it's UI for it's Not-Quite-Android tablets and Palm's patents.

My Touchpad is already an Amazon content delivery system: There is a Kindle app, I use the Cloud Player for my music (though I can't download straight to my Touchpad) and when I stream video, I stream Amazon. Hulu works with a hack or through Splashtop, but Amazon works simply and directly with the Touchpad.

Somewhere in the darkest recesses of HP's PSG is a hybrid WebOS / Android build from back in Froyo days. If Amazon wants Palm, they will revive that.

I don't see WebOS with a life beyond this possibility. If it stays at HP, it's best possibility is the UI being folded into a Windows 8 skin.

[questionfear]

My guess is that Amazon would use it as a backup plan if Google decided they didn't like Amazon playing in their Android backyard. And for just some general broad patent and design protection.

But yea, it's a bit weird.

[LandSurveyor]

This industry article seems a little bit more affirmative about the rumors:
Report: Amazon close to acquiring webOS assets from HP - FierceWireless

What did Ren say about pressing the Shiny Red Button?

Given we'd pronounced it dead, anyway, I guess this doesn't make any difference.

[jigwashere]

I think this is the worst possibilty. Amazon is not going to produce smartphones and tablets except as content delivery systems. They would be interested in WebOS a) because they are competitiors with Google and b)the Patents to handle Apple.

I don't think they would end up producing anything like a robust line of WebOS phones and tablets. It will be an Amazon store in your pocket.

Why am I having AOL flashbacks all of a sudden? Seems they were basically content providers, too.