Fire Alarms Systems

Every week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

The last Switched On discussed why HP might be more successful licensing webOS as Palm or PalmSource with Palm OS ever have. To put it in the context of a modern conflict, HP 's was the equivalent of a handset Nexus devices (but sell better in HP' s ideal), in competition with other Android phones from those involved. Even the Nexus phones are ultimately made by the existing licensees such as HTC and Samsung.

WebOS as a licensed operating system would probably offer the most in direct competition with Windows Mobile 7, an operating system that licensees and consumers some choice, but keep a consistent user experience - especially how it is trying to court developers. Is in contrast to Windows Mobile 7, however, webOS quickly to new form factors, enhanced with the TouchPad, the tangible evidence than the first.

HP has said that it 's most interested in licensing it to companies that wouldn' t compete with it in its core markets. Now we are 's count out HP' s major PC competitors, Acer, Dell (who once tried to build his own webOS similar platform when it bought Zing), Lenovo and Toshiba. However, many companies develop, which could help make sense (in terms of absolute volume, but also as a relevant development platform) provide scale for webOS least in the U.S. market, at least, mobile phones. A licensee could webOS handset phones with features like a 4.3-inch display, HP has shied away from, but which was present in many successful smartphone to lend.

Read more Switched On: Do webOS

Switched On: Do webOS originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, July 10, 2011 17:34:00 EDT. Please read our terms for use of feeds.