HP Splitting webOS from Palm Hardware

HP’s webOS Global Business Unit will be divided according to in-house memos, with the software teams joining the OS&T and the hardware division merging into the PSG.

ZoomOver the weekend, two memos sent to employees of HP’s webOS Global Business Unit revealed that the company plans to separate the software units from the hardware unit. The software division will be moved over to HP’s Office of Strategy and Technology and report to EVP Shane Robison., and the hardware division will remain with the Personal Systems Group and report to Stephen DeWitt.

"With our focus on business and technology strategy, OS&T will be able to provide [the webOS software engineering, developer relations, and software product marketing teams] with the resources and support they need as we define the best monetization model," wrote Shane Robison. "The webOS software employees join HP Cloud Services, Vertica, and Business Solutions as an incubating business group. However, while these teams will be joining OS&T we have decided not to initiate any integration activities. These teams will continue to operate under their current systems and processes until further notice. "

"Reorganizing the webOS software teams under OS&T allows us to fully investigate how we can utilize the webOS software platform," wrote Todd Bradley in a separate letter. "The pan-HP charter of OS&T provides a broad view of how we can optimize our technologies. In fact, it has proven to be a successful incubator of technologies; it is home to a team of senior technology experts devoted exclusively to exploring longer-term strategies for our technologies. Currently, OS&T is incubating the HP Cloud Services business units, Vertica and Business Solutions. I would like to thank the teams moving to OS&T for their hard work, innovation and devotion to creating a differentiated customer experience. Their efforts are evident in the intuitive elegance of webOS, and they will not soon be forgotten."

Bradley also added that the PSG must continue to ensure that "our customers, partners, colleagues and friends understand that we remain focused on creating amazing products, winning new business and showing the world why we continue to be the largest, most profitable PC company in the world."

Reports also point to HP's "strategic focus" on cloud, connectivity, services and software, and printing in both letters. This focus seemingly indicates where the company may be headed with the webOS platform, possibly becoming a full-service provider of infrastructure and business systems for a select group of clients using its own IP and OS. That said, there's a good chance webOS will never re-appear on the market in a consumer-ready format as seen on the TouchPad and Palm Pre smartphones.

Given that HP previously confirmed that it's not leaving the tablet sector, the separation of webOS software and hardware shouldn't come as a surprise. Still, to read both letters, head here.