HP splits its WebOS team into two to prepare for spin-off

MAKER OF EXPENSIVE PRINTER INK HP has told its WebOS Global Business Unit (WGBU) employees that it will be split into two divisions to get set for a spin-off.

Last month HP made the shock announcement that it will dump the hardware side of its WebOS business unit and focus on trying to license the software. Now in an internal memo to WGBU employees, HP said that the hardware division will stay under the firm's Personal Systems Group continuing to report to Stephen DeWitt, while the software side will move over to HP's Office of Strategy and Technology (OST) and report to executive VP Shane Robinson.

Given that HP stated that it wants to retain WebOS as software that can be licensed, there's no real surprise that HP is bringing the software division closer within the company. However it makes you wonder whether lumping the WebOS hardware team into the same Personal Systems Group that HP has talked of spinning out will help the firm find a buyer or please its investors.

Todd Bradley, the EVP of HP's Personal Systems Group wrote, "Reorganizing the WebOS software teams under OS&T allows us to fully investigate how we can utilize the WebOS software platform. 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."

Robinson said similarly positive things about the change and gave WebOS users hope by adding, "This move also supports the teams' continued efforts with over-the-air updates and the application catalog."

HP still views WebOS as an operating system it can load onto all kinds of devices, just not smartphones and tablets. Its decision to get out of the smartphone and tablet business could also help it license WebOS to smartphone makers that are worried about Google's purchase of Motorola.

Earlier today Acer said that it would consider the implications of the Google-Motorola deal when it came to loading Android on its devices. Since HP's announcement, only it and Microsoft can provide smartphone and tablet operating systems without being direct rivals to handset makers.

However for those HP hardware folks in its WGBU this latest announcement is likely being heard as a threat to their jobs. µ