HP hushes claims it would axe Palm phones

HP in a brief update put to rest fears that it would drop webOS for phones. The company promised that smartphones from Palm would still exist and would just be part of a larger strategy, which would include newer or more unusual devices such as tablets and printers. The PC builder just intended to use its scale to go beyond, it said.

"When we look at the market, we see an array of interconnected devices, including tablets, printers, and of course, smartphones," HP said. "We believe webOS can become the backbone for many of HP's small form factor devices, and we expect to expand webOS's footprint beyond just the smartphone market, all while leveraging our financial strength, scale, and global reach to grow in smartphones."

The takeover is poised to help webOS get traction in the smartphone space, as Palm has been hindered by its inability to expand to carriers quickly or market its phones as much as its rivals, especially Apple and well-known Android designers like HTC and Motorola.

By Electronista Staff