Palm WebOS to arrive on HP printers soon
The giant computer maker has recently shared that one of its aims when acquiring Palm WebOS is not only at its traditional smartphone home, but also at the company’s Internet-connected printers.
According to Mark Hurdm, HP chief executive, HP’s plans for the operating system went beyond mobile phones to a variety of devices, including slate computers and printers.
As stated by HP, Startup Virtual Iron offers a maturing virtual server technology which creates inroads with customers and providing a challenge to VMWare.
HP strongly hopes that the WebOS will be leveraged into a variety of form factors, including slate computers and Web-connected printers.
HP’s acquisition announcement has been released late last month with $1.2 billion in cash. The Palm WebOS has been considered as he crown jewel of Palm’s portfolio, and industry observers assumed HP would use the software in future mobile devices, including slate computers. Palm has also unveiled its plan to produce a tablet-style PC to compete with Apple’s iPad.
HP strongly hopes that the WebOS will be leveraged into a variety of form factors, including slate computers and Web-connected printers.
Nonetheless, it is unexpected that WebOS is used in printers. WebOS is seen as not only an operating system but also a development platform open to applications from third-party developers, and Palm has an online application store that offers software for its smartphones.
It is likely that Hp will probably grow its printer business thanks to the use of WebOS in printers in the situation in which more and more people are using online photo services to share pictures electronically. The first Internet-connected inkjet printer of HP was introduced last summer, allowing people to print coupons, movie tickets, maps, and other items from Web sites without having to turn on a PC.
According to HP, its revenue in the second fiscal quarter rose 8% year-to-year for its imaging and printing group, which TBR said was “strong growth for this division.
