On Friday, HP announced it will make its webOS mobile operating system available to software developers and device-makers as an open source platform. The move comes on the heels of heavy ongoing speculation about the sale of the operating unit, and HP’s long term intentions in the mobile marketplace. Open source could prove to be a strong win for HP, limiting financial investment and exposure in the platform for the organization while maintaining options for a tablet strategy in the future. Also, with the hopeful infusion of a broader developer base, webOS could prove a viable platform and contender among peers – especially in machine to machine markets.
Licensing and revenue sharing details about open source webOS are yet to be announced, but look for HP to be especially flexible on both fronts. Read more here from the BBC.
