Samsung: We'll "Never" License HP's webOS
Samsung doesn't want HP's webOS platform, claims company CEO Choi Gee Sung. Ouch, that's gotta hurt.
To make sure that the entire industry is on the same page with Samsung, company CEO Choi Gee Sung clearly stated on Friday that Samsung will "never" license HP's webOS platform for smartphones and tablets. He made his anti-webOS stance during IFA in Berlin, Germany, noting that his South Korea-based company already has its own mobile OS.
"It’s not right that acquiring an operating system is becoming a fashion," Choi told reporters. He added that Samsung is currently working to boost Bada's software capabilities "harder than people outside think." Currently the in-house OS is slated to appear on the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note and three additional Wave smartphones.
Based on Choi's comments, it appears that HP has one less prospect when it begins to properly shop webOS around to other manufacturers. Rumors of Samsung's possible interest in webOSsurfaced earlier this week after the company denied reports that it may purchase HP's PC division. But like the speculated PSG acquisition, Samsung apparently has no interest in what HP has to offer.
Last month HP discontinued its webOS-based tablets and smartphones, but the company claimed that a number of parties were still interested in licensing the software. Speculation currently points to HTC as a possible candidate, and there's also talk that Facebook needs to purchase (or at least license) webOS to better compete with Google and Apple. Naturally both have declined to comment on speculation.
Right now, HP is advertising its PC business as a possible $40B start-up company, separate from HP prime. HP has also stated that there's a strong future for the webOS platform, but as of this writing, its $1.2B software purchase has been put on hold. The TouchPad tablet is slated to make another run at retail shelves for one last hurrah at the cheap $99 and $149 price points, but its brief popularity only indicates that consumers know a good bargain.

I think he will go down as the man that destroyed HP.
I think he will go down as the man that destroyed HP.
On a related topic, I hope that in all this cut throat competition, we buyers will end up with better hardware and a much better offer (+++freebees)
So there's gonna be a midget running around with a tablet dangling on a noose around his neck, trying SO hard NOT to use it, because someone will know & send undead wraiths to try to kill him if he does? ;-)
Right there I already know that they are doomed.
Nope, that would be our good friend Mark Hurd. Got rid of almost all the innovation the company ever had and knocked quality into the shitter.
These "indoctrinated" old boy network clowns, like Leo, Mark, ect, repeatedly prove that for all the tens of millions plus perks they receive not only can they NOT keep the company alive, they actually seem designed to destroy them, HP is one of many examples you can find today. To think being rewarded to kill the goose that laid their golden egg.
Regarding the WebOS, I think HPs best angle would be to do a "mea culpa" of a huge degree and instead decide to continue to support and develop it. At least within the new PSG company.
Did you see the WSJ full page ad on Thursday ? HP trying to undo the "F.U." Leo committed earlier to the PSG employees and customers.
The question is if HP themselves won't use WebOS on a tablet why the hell should anyone else?
49 days then can the whole project? Shows a massive vote of no confidence in their own product.
I suspect there is high probability that in 1/2 years time Big G will start to give preference to Motorola in order to tighten its grip over Android's evolution. However, long before this happens, I think OEMs will start to look for alternatives, they wouldn't want to be in a position where they are cornered by just one player.
About Nokia, I think Microsoft probably can buy Nokia and HTC, which will put them in pretty strong position, but are they bold enough to do it/take risk is another matter.