The Palm Pre. HP intends to use the webOS platform to create tablet devices and phones to crack the lucrative US$100m mobile device market
Computer giant HP, which has just acquired smartphone maker Palm, has completed a trademark application for ‘PalmPad’, signalling its intention to go head to head with Apple’s iPad.
HP, which earlier this month confirmed it completed the US$1.2bn acquisition of Palm, has made no secret of the fact it plans to feature Palm’s webOS in a new line of tablet PCs, netbooks and smartphones.
The filing with the USPTO was made by Hewlett-Packard Development Company based out of Houston, Texas.
Prior to buying Palm, HP has been mysteriously quiet about plans to make a Windows 7-based tablet computer – dubbed the Slate – and has jettisoned plans to make Android-based tablet devices.
Upon completion of the Palm purchase, Todd Bradley, executive vice-president of HP’s Personal Systems Group, explained the that acquisition will give HP access to Palm’s webOS platform and, in particular, a “rich portfolio of intellectual property” from the smartphone maker.
Former Palm CEO Jon Rubenstein made it clear the webOS platform will feature in future slate PCs and netbooks.
“With webOS, HP will deliver its customers a unique and compelling experience across smartphones and other mobility products.
“This allows us the opportunity to fully engage in growing our smartphone family offering and the footprint of webOS."
Rubenstein will lead the Palm global business unit within HP and will report to Bradley.
