HP Completes Palm Acquisition

HP today announced it has completed its acquisition of Palm Inc. at a price of $5.70 per share of Palm common stock in cash. In a statement, Hewlett-Packard says the the combo gives HP significant headway into one of technology's fastest-growth segments with Palm's innovative webOS platform and family of smartphones, plus a rich portfolio of intellectual property from the smartphone pioneer.

"With webOS, HP will deliver its customers a unique and compelling experience across smartphones and other mobility products," said Todd Bradley, executive vice president, Personal Systems Group, HP. "This allows us the opportunity to fully engage in growing our smartphone family offering and the footprint of webOS."

HP's global scale and financial strength plus Palm's award-winning webOS experience, as well as its acclaimed Pre and Pixi smartphone product lines, enhance HP's ability to participate more aggressively in the highly profitable, $100 billion smartphone and connected mobile device markets.

Under Jon Rubinstein, former Palm chairman and chief executive officer, the Palm global business unit will report to Bradley. Palm will be responsible for webOS software development and webOS based hardware products, from a robust smartphone roadmap to future slate PCs and netbooks.

"With HP's full backing and global strengths, I'm confident that webOS will be able to reach its full potential," said Rubinstein. "This agreement will accelerate the development of this incredible platform with new resources, scale and support from a world-respected brand."

Source: HP Press Release.

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Pre 'FREE' on ATT or VZW

LiveFaith @ 7/1/2010 8:25:11 AM # Q
The Pre + is being offered for FREE at HPs webstore on ATT or VZW.

http://www.cellstores.com/mobile/?r=hp

Looks like the Palm branding will survive. And (a huge AND) the "Palm" group will be responsible for it's own s/w development. Now, no promises are made that HP's s/w team will not slowly meld into it. But if they will just keep the Palm culture and back it with a litte cash, then it will pay back huge rewards IMO. All good signs, but I'm still a bit skittish.
Pat Horne

RE: Pre 'FREE' on ATT or VZW
LiveFaith @ 7/1/2010 8:27:48 AM # Q
Not seeing the orange ball anywhere. Is it gone? Interestingly HP used the same orange ball for ad info.
Pat Horne
RE: Pre 'FREE' on ATT or VZW
Gekko @ 7/1/2010 8:44:39 AM # Q

tie two rocks together and they still sink.

RE: Pre 'FREE' on ATT or VZW
LiveFaith @ 7/1/2010 1:21:33 PM # Q
Are you sure Gordon? ,,,

Do they need to be tied together to sink?

Will one rock not sink alone?

Will they sink if placed in cement?

Will they sink in water that's frozen?

Do they sink if attempting in weightless environs?

... you'll be sad when I get my new printer with 4G, AMOLED, and WebOS.


Pat Horne

RE: Pre 'FREE' on ATT or VZW
Gekko @ 7/1/2010 3:43:52 PM # Q

Reverend - you jumped from one dead platform to another.


RE: Pre 'FREE' on ATT or VZW
LiveFaith @ 7/2/2010 6:09:09 AM # Q
The WebOS tide is rising my reptilian friend.
Pat Horne
Reply to this comment

and so it ends

Gekko @ 7/1/2010 11:03:51 AM # Q

and that's that.


RE: and so it ends
hkklife @ 7/1/2010 12:21:20 PM # Q
Now that it is "over" are you gonna pull a disappearing act like SeldomVisitor/Hengeem?? I sure hope not! I may be needing some Evo pointers in, oh, 2-3 weeks!

Pilot 1000->Pilot 5000->PalmPilot Pro->IIIe->Vx->m505->T|T->T|T2->T|C->T|T3->T|T5->Zodiac 2->TX->Verizon Treo 700P->Verizon Treo 755p->Verizon Moto Droid + Verizon Palm Centro

RE: and so it ends
LiveFaith @ 7/1/2010 1:24:24 PM # Q
It didn't end with USR. After Palm's management completely leavens the entire mgmt lump at the conglomerate, they will do anything to spin them off. Then we'll get YAL that we have been craving. Yet Another Logo. :-)
Pat Horne
RE: and so it ends
Gekko @ 7/1/2010 3:08:30 PM # Q

hkk - not planning on bailing but you guys are a bunch of dinosaurs.

RE: and so it ends
hkklife @ 7/1/2010 4:12:36 PM # M Q
Geckos ain't too far up the evolutionary ladder from dinosaurs, pal! Besides, who of the PIC faithful took the Android plunge first? Yes, yes, I know Darth got an HTC G1 in 2008 but that was a hideous device and nowhere near ready for primetime. I mean the first decently acceptable/modern Android 2.0 device (Droid).
Reply to this comment

A new beginning

e_tellurian @ 7/1/2010 1:20:25 PM # M Q
Well one can see where HP wants to take Palm. This journey will be filled with music and joy. Utilizing carbon fiber and exotic metal could complete this package of quality sound and experience.

E-T

RE: A new beginning
LiveFaith @ 7/1/2010 1:25:55 PM # Q
Don't forget the mono sound output on the 2.5mm audio jack. A little retro never hurt either.
Pat Horne
RE: A new beginning
e_tellurian @ 7/1/2010 1:31:13 PM # M Q
It would be cool to build youtube content that is optimized in a new platform that includes full youtube content. Some platforms do not seem to enable full youtube interaction. Some mobile devices will offer music and video not forum interaction. Perhaps this new platform will open up youtube to full mobile interaction.

E-T

RE: A new beginning
e_tellurian @ 7/1/2010 1:33:59 PM # M Q
Are you thinking about enabling larger audio than ear buds?

E-T

RE: A new beginning
CFreymarc @ 7/1/2010 1:56:18 PM # Q
I'm glad this happened. FWIW, the main reason why Palm is being picked up is they have a very good embedded Linux RTOS (webOS) that they are planning to design in a lot of their products.

Supposedly, they are looking at getting rid of two third party embedded OS'es with this. First is ThreadX that allegedly runs on most of their printers and scanners. Second is they want to eliminate, if not severely compromise Window Mobile and make some good mobile systems. Perhaps we will even see an HP-branded and webOS-based tablet computer.

It does look bright. How long will the Palm logos say on the buildings on Maude Ave?

Reply to this comment

SHOCK! HP *gets* it!

mikecane @ 7/1/2010 4:10:24 PM # Q
See this YouTube Q&A with the HP guy that is over Palm. He gets it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ae9qmbnMj4

-- you must watch ALL 15 minutes of it.

RE: SHOCK! HP *gets* it!
Scotland @ 7/1/2010 6:13:00 PM # Q
Yeah, the naysayers are wrong - Palm coupled with HP has lots of potential - far more than Palm ever had on their own. Originally, I was hoping that Cisco might pick up Palm (also a parent with deep pockets and little existing presence in the mobile device market) but now I think HP is dead serious about making a strong go at the mobile market (cell phones, tablets, other form factors to be named later - probably netbooks, cameras - and non-mobile devices like, of course, printers) and so is the best possible buyer that Palm could have ever hoped for. HP seems to WANT to go their own way in mobile - independent of Google, Apple, Microsoft, etc - and seem eager to put their money where their mouth is.

For example - HP gives Palm the ability to launch a new phone simultaneously on multiple carriers like Samsung is doing with their new Galaxy line of phones. Why? Because HP doesn't need the carrier kickbacks and marketing aid that come with the exclusivity agreements (Palm needed these because they were so cash poor). HP has a huge marketing and sales department that can spend gazillions on advertising campaigns to build awareness - one bad campaign won't sink HP like the way it did Palm with the creep girl ads (though I still hope HP can manage a home run campaign like Motorola/Verizon did with Droid).

The only open questions are longer term - does HP/Palm license webOS for non-core markets? We know Google's Android will be everywhere (phones, tablets, TVs, etc - Google makes money off search - not the devices) but how will HP/Palm compete with that? And, if HP for some reason doesn't end up being successful (by whatever metric they decide to measure that), how long will they continue the no-holds-barred investment in Palm/WebOS before shifting strategies (i.e. they decide mobile is non-core and go back to just being a licensee)?

Anyway, with Apple and Google mostly being consumer oriented, there's a real opportunity for HP in the enterprise markets, especially when it comes to tablets. I figure if they can quickly (within 6-9 mos) come out with a strong tablet, it will help them win share in mobile phones (they'll no doubt have solid phones, they'll find an increasingly saturated market and have difficulty cutting through the chatter). For the other non-mobile devices the lead time is longer - webOS in printers, cameras and instant-on webOS BIOS PCs (if those come to fruition) probably won't come until mid-2011 at the earliest.

Microsoft continues to flail around in the mobile space - allowing Windows Mobile momentum to melt away while investing in the Kin (completely mistargeted product which took way too long to come to market) and killing the Courier shows just how adrift they are. How many OEMs will sign up for Phone 7 once it is finally released (and will consumers even care)? Nokia's two OS strategy (Symbian and Meego) dilutes what should be a stronger presence - though they look to be getting closer to moving forward with Meego and ditching Symbian. And RIMM looks to me like they might be the next Palm - taking a painfully long time to update their OS and increasingly outmatched financially in a game of behemoths (Google, Apple, MS, Nokia, HP, Intel).

It'll be interesting...

RE: SHOCK! HP *gets* it!
LiveFaith @ 7/1/2010 8:17:06 PM # Q
Or maybe the decades of experience in the industry and his ascent up the corporate ladder have taught him how to tell one group of people (WebOS devs) what they want to hear. Even if it's not the actual goal.

I hope you are right BTW.
Pat Horne

RE: SHOCK! HP *gets* it!
rpa @ 7/2/2010 12:03:08 AM # Q
The 2 mobile handheld products on HP's web page are both pretty solid specs. Throw WebOS on these and related form factors like multiple sized tablets, and it could get interesting. I just hope they make the link to the cloud optional which I assume they would if they go on multiple carriers in parallel like Samsung is. Just wondering, is there a carrier that ISN"T handling Samsung Galaxy S? It's everywhere in some form or another.
RE: SHOCK! HP *gets* it!
LiveFaith @ 7/2/2010 6:15:04 AM # Q
Plenty of different sync solutions exist for WebOS. But the visionaries have hitched their stars to the cloud. I'm not a total fan either, but the train rolls on.

WebOS' "synergy" is really extremely powerful and seamless in it's functionality. I shutter to think how they even make it work. To the end user it just works and works great. That being said, the patriot in me never forgets big brother and the fact that the cloud is possessed by the unknowns and not me.
Pat Horne

RE: SHOCK! HP *gets* it!
Gekko @ 7/2/2010 6:23:34 AM # Q

over? was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor???!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8lT1o0sDwI

RE: SHOCK! HP *gets* it!
jptx @ 7/2/2010 11:23:06 AM # M Q
OK HP, here's what I want. A webos pad with a bluetooth handset consisting of only an ear piece and mike, one version I can hold in my hand (imagine a small curved piece almost like a slightly bent pen) and one version people can stick in their ear. Sprint would provide a very generous but not unlimited data and phone plan for about $45 including hotspot. Unlimited data cost $10 more. Sell it for $499 or $249 with a two year commitment to the plan.
RE: SHOCK! HP *gets* it!
mikecane @ 7/2/2010 11:33:15 AM # Q
Really, did any of you bother to watch the video and actually LISTEN?

HP has established relationships with every damned carrier. HP's SMS software is the MIDDLEWARE everyone in the cellphone space uses. This gives webOS an advantage NO OTHER OS can hope for. HP has had a trusted long-term relationship with all those vendors, unlike either Apple or Google. If HP says, "Look, put this webOS middleware on your network and carry our devices, and we'll all clean up like hell" -- carriers will listen and DO.

I also didn't know about these frikkin apps already built-into HP's printers.

And that HP guy in that video has one hell of an impressive resume going there. Plus, he came out of retirement to work at HP. Someone like him could have gone anywhere, but he went to HP. He had to have liked what HP told him they wanted to do.

And I also liked the fact one of the first things HP did was run a contest with all the engineers to build webOS apps. DAHYUM! Talk about everyone getting hands-on experience with it! All those engineers could also look at it and immediately see what heavyweight things would improve webOS.

If Apple and Google have been laughing at Palm, they'd better start paying attention. The sh*t is going to start to getting serious soon.

RE: SHOCK! HP *gets* it!
Gekko @ 7/2/2010 11:38:37 AM # Q

Con -

Palm = Fail
HP = Fail

Palm + HP = Fail


RE: SHOCK! HP *gets* it!
jca666us @ 7/2/2010 12:54:02 PM # M Q
HP doesn't get it:


In connection with completion of the Palm acquisition by Hewlett-Packard (HPQ), some Palm staffers this week were handed their walking papers.

One now-former Palm staffer who got the ax this week tells me that while there were "many others" cut, but that the company would not say exactly how many people lost their jobs as a result of the deal. "Pretty ironic for a company that said it was going to double-down on WebOS," my contact writes.

RE: SHOCK! HP *gets* it!
mikecane @ 7/2/2010 1:11:20 PM # Q
Hmmm... but what did those people do? Could it be they duplicated functions best left to HP's muscle and experience?

Gekko is blinded by his EVO. I await his yips of pain when Android 3.0 makes it slow as molasses later this year. Suddenly, webOS on a tablet will look mighty good to him and he'll be screaming to HP for a new phone with it.

RE: SHOCK! HP *gets* it!
hkklife @ 7/2/2010 2:19:24 PM # Q
@ Mike;

I'd be content to have Rob Haitani, Jeff Hawkins, the tap counter guy, and Donna Dubinsky come out of retirement/semi-retirement to join the party over any HP people. Throw in CES Dewar, Dmitry Grinberg, Aaron Ardiri, some of the TCPMP crew and Marc Blank alongside some young Linux studs and that'd be pretty much good enough for me.

@ jptx;

That's the best concept I've heard in ages. In fact, it's almost a no-brainer (along with my idea to sell leftover Centros at $99 retail w/ $20 monthly unlimited data service through Virgin Mobile etc). It'd also make sense to have a $200 or $300 wi-fi only version for the budget-minded. it's such a good concept that HP/Palm or Sprint would want to run with it. But what size screen would you like to see? I feel that maybe 1366x768 on 10.6" or so is the sweet spot?


Pilot 1000->Pilot 5000->PalmPilot Pro->IIIe->Vx->m505->T|T->T|T2->T|C->T|T3->T|T5->Zodiac 2->TX->Verizon Treo 700P->Verizon Treo 755p->Verizon Moto Droid + Verizon Palm Centro

RE: SHOCK! HP *gets* it!
LiveFaith @ 7/2/2010 7:18:34 PM # Q
Peanut Butter = Fail

Jelly = Fail

PBJ = Ohhhh Baby! :-D
Pat Horne

RE: SHOCK! HP *gets* it!
jca666us @ 7/3/2010 3:29:03 AM # Q
That video talks about HP wanting more then just the technology; HP was also interested in the *people* at Palm...

yet...

a few webos people leave, several vp's leave, *and* HP axes a bunch of people.

Sounds like HP is not off to a good start with all of this.

Reply to this comment

HP Now Selling Palm Phones

DarthRepublican @ 7/2/2010 1:04:19 PM # Q
I get a lot of spam from HP since I've bought several of their laptops. Today along with their 4th of July sale ad, they included a "Welcome to the Family" link to their new wireless store which consists of webOS phones and the iPAQ Glisten.

http://www.cellstores.com/mobile/?r=hp
Fool/Palm Apologist
Shouting down the PIC Faithful Since 2009
Screw convergence
Palm III->Visor Deluxe->Visor Platinum->Visor Prism->Tungsten E->Palm LifeDrive->Palm TX->Palm Pre
Visor Pro+VisorPhone->Treo 180g->Treo 270->Treo 600->Treo 680->T-Mobile G1->Palm Pre
http://mind-grapes.blogspot.com/

RE: HP Now Selling Palm Phones
mikecane @ 7/2/2010 1:13:35 PM # Q
Heh. Now HP will have numbers of its own to see how the Pre/Pixi are selling -- or not. I'd sure like to be in that "We need a new phone NOW, dammit!!!" crisis meeting.
RE: HP Now Selling Palm Phones
rpa @ 7/2/2010 10:11:47 PM # Q
My first impression is HP is cleaning out the existing hardware in anticipation of a few new toys coming down the pike.
RE: HP Now Selling Palm Phones
LiveFaith @ 7/3/2010 7:02:03 AM # Q
I would say that Palm itself was on the cusp of releasing a new phone(s). It's been a year since the Pre launch, and they have repeatedly spoken about products in the pipeline. HP said publicly that they would continue to bring what's in the pipeline. HP may make some labeling and release adjustments, but it's way to late to make any significant product changes at this stage. Even if HP is not crazy about the products launching, they are not going to sell nothing for another 9-18 months while they bring something totally new.
Palm was discretely (Ha!) positioning itself for sale after the Pre launch got bungled. But all that money they were burning through at to fast a pace to survive was going to build something. That something should get at least Mr. Fuzzycam here in a few days.
Pat Horne
RE: HP Now Selling Palm Phones
Gekko @ 7/3/2010 7:23:24 AM # Q

wow you're really naive and gullible.

RE: HP Now Selling Palm Phones
mikecane @ 7/3/2010 8:52:00 AM # Q
Give me a webOS phone that tops Gekko's paltry EVO -- so I can taunt him to death, especially after Android 3.0 makes his EVO useless. Bwahahaha!
RE: HP Now Selling Palm Phones
Gekko @ 7/3/2010 10:10:34 AM # Q

"Lately my life has seemed hollow and pointless, so I thought I'd buy a new gadget." – Men's Health Cartoon, October 2005


RE: HP Now Selling Palm Phones
mikecane @ 7/3/2010 5:03:51 PM # Q
>>>"Lately my life has seemed hollow and pointless, so I thought I'd buy a new gadget." – Men's Health Cartoon, October 2005

Which is precisely why I DON'T buy everydamnthing everyone else buys. My life ISN'T frikkin hollow and pointless. STFU, Gekko -- which of us two HAS to visit strippers? Not me, baby.

Reply to this comment

The seven lives of Palm computing

DarthRepublican @ 7/3/2010 4:06:14 PM # Q
Former Handspring Honchette, Donna Dubinski has a brief article might help put HP's acquisition of Palm into perspective.

http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_15431301
Fool/Palm Apologist
Shouting down the PIC Faithful Since 2009
Screw convergence
Palm III->Visor Deluxe->Visor Platinum->Visor Prism->Tungsten E->Palm LifeDrive->Palm TX->Palm Pre
Visor Pro+VisorPhone->Treo 180g->Treo 270->Treo 600->Treo 680->T-Mobile G1->Palm Pre
http://mind-grapes.blogspot.com/

RE: The seven lives of Palm computing
mikecane @ 7/3/2010 5:02:05 PM # Q
>>>A graphic interface for hand-helds where every pixel was analyzed to reduce steps and confusion.

Yeah, now that's what webOS needs today!

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