While stating her company would "bet heavily with Windows [8 tablets]" in the short term, HP chief executive Meg Whitman stated that the company will return to building a webOS tablet by 2013, if not next year.

Whitman made the comments in an interview with TechCrunch, joined by HP board member Marc Andreessen.

Earlier today, Whitman publicly announced plans to retain webOS internally and offer the platform up through an open source program, without detailing what type of license the company planned to offer the software under.

Instead, Whitman spoke only in general terms about contributing to and investing in the mobile platform, which HP acquired as part of Palm in a $1.2 billion deal last spring.

But Andreessen remarked in the new interview that with webOS released as an open source project, there will be future webOS tablets from a variety of vendors, adding that HP would be among the companies designing new tablet hardware for the webOS platform. Whitman added that HP might not produce new webOS tablet hardware in 2012, but would reach the tablet market by 2013.

The company has previously stated that it would not be making new webOS smartphones, but has only suggested that future tablets would be exclusively based on future versions of Windows. This makes the new reiteration of support for HP branded, webOS based tablets an interesting commitment, particularly given such a long timeframe.

HP waffles on tablet platform strategy

At the beginning of 2010, HP debuted a Windows 7 powered "Slate PC" alongside Microsoft's Steve Ballmer just prior to Apple's unveiling of the iPad. That device was a dismal failure, and the challenge of the iPad sparked an effort to buy Palm and develop a true tablet competitor using that company's already in progress webOS tablet platform.

Just weeks after launching its first webOS tablet this summer, HP's previous chief executive Leo Apotheker canceled the TouchPad and other webOS hardware projects, noting poor sales of the device and a new direction for the company.

Apotheker was then himself spun off as HP's chief executive and Whitman was appointed in his place. Rather than affirming support for webOS however, Whitman spoke exclusively at the time of HP's plans to deliver a tablet next year running Microsoft's Windows 8, which isn't expected to be completed before the end of 2012.

Her announcement today that HP would eventually return to building custom tablets running webOS is therefore a surprise, and presents a strange cycle of waffling between Microsoft's platform and HP's own. By hedging both of its bets, HP is sending strange signals about its commitment to either Windows 8 or webOS. HP has also dabbled with Android, but hasn't delivered any successful products with that mobile platform either.

While stating her company would "bet heavily with Windows [8 tablets]" in the short term, HP chief executive Meg Whitman stated that the company will return to building a webOS tablet by 2013, if not next year.

Great news.

WebOS has a lot going for it, and if it gets picked up by more than one company, it might mature into a truly great platform.

I wonder what the Android folks think about all this? Will we see predominately Android Phones and WebOS tablets in our future? Android, so far, has not cracked the tablet market in any huge way.

Given HP gained 5% marketshare almost overnight with their $99 firesale... and now that WebOS is open source... Tablet manufacturers using Android now have another choice...

Will be interesting to see how this all unfolds. WebOS already is a better system than Android IMHO.

As many have commented in the previous post on this, I can see phone manufacturers being all over this to escape the mess Android is. IMHO it will be, as you say, simply more choices for those not wanting Apple products.

From Apple ][ - to new Mac Pro I've owned them all.Long on AAPL so biased"Google doesn't sell you anything, Google just sells you!"

Further this sounds like a fall back plan. Something to the effect that if the Windows tablet effort doesn't succeed we will start to install WebOS on our tablets. I'd hate to be an HP stock holder right now as this sounds awfully wishy washy to me.

As many have commented in the previous post on this, I can see phone manufacturers being all over this to escape the mess Android is. IMHO it will be, as you say, simply more choices for those not wanting Apple products.

For a tablet I can see WebOS gaining traction where Android can't, but not in the smartphone sector. Still, overall it looks like a rocky road for Android and WebOS in the tablet market. I wouldn't back either horse.

And 2013? Apple will definitely have HiDPI iPads in 2013 and possibly be so entrenched with another iPod-like dominance that HP will scrap will any WebOS tablets long before then.

This bot has been removed from circulation due to a malfunctioning morality chip.

They fired Apotheker because of his waffling and all they get is more of the same high-priced, utterly incompetent management from that horrid, stupid woman.
You know what, HP? Why don't you hire me instead of Whitman. I will only take half her salary, and I don't think it's humanly possible for me to do a worse job than that moron.

WebOS has a lot going for it, and if it gets picked up by more than one company, it might mature into a truly great platform.

I wonder what the Android folks think about all this? Will we see predominately Android Phones and WebOS tablets in our future? Android, so far, has not cracked the tablet market in any huge way.

The Android crowd does not mind WebOS. In fact, most of the big stories on Android sites when HP was pushing WebOS were about the fire sales for $99 and where to get one and when they became sold out.

Cyanogenmod members also worked on porting Android to the tablet. Now with it being open source and all that goodness, on Google+ and some Android sites, people are already talking about Dual-booting Android&WebOS hardware.

Choice is something always cherished in the community, even if it does start a bit of an internal fight at times.

Now To wait for Tizen to release their SDK and source code, and may give Ubuntu Mobile a shot depending on how they handle the UI.

I view this differently than many of those do who commented previously. This "strategy" seems like a disaster. It lacks direction. It's complicated. It's vague. It hinges on a wing and a prayer of other manufacturers adopting the platform, but also promises to deliver it's own hardware. Of course, this is what HP decided NOT to do a few months ago.

Android is a mess and may end up killing itself with fragmentation (as many of us predicted quite some time ago). Now WebOS is basically dead before it gets off the ground. Hopefully this will be enough to answer analysts' questions for the next three years as to why Apple continues to kick everyone's ass all over the globe.

I can only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow doesn't look good either.

I was pleasantly surprised with the last version of WebOS that I looked at for smart phones, about a year ago. It was incredibly polished. I tried to get one of the TouchPads when they were clearing out but could not get one before the early birds.

The lesson I learned from the HP fire sale is that there is a "magic" price point that they will sell in droves. If HP can somehow get this device to $199 or lower, run a good OS, and have halfway decent build quality, they will sell lots. I think Android is a bit of a mess, and another alternative with the same polish as iOS would be good for the market.

Bring it on, HP. I would support Web OS in a heartbeat. Other than iOS, no other OS entices me.

I'm with you. I was really shocked when they pulled WebOS of the market; glad it will come back. It is the most elegant of designs and most unifying of all the platforms. Apple's iOS is a walled garden that was needed to get it started, but HTML5 apps (their original plans and basically WebOS) was a superior plan for cross-platform opportunities.

Perhaps this will rekindle the opportunity for apps written for HTML5 across all the mobile platforms!

You don’t announce something two years from now, which competes with something you’re announcing ONE year from now, when you’ve repeatedly failed to deliver successfully. What’s the message here?

“Our WebOS is great! It’s open source so everyone can use it! But we won’t be able to get it working ourselves for two more years.”

Or...?

“Web OS is better than Windows Metro, or we obviously wouldn’t bother with it, but we’ll ship Windows Metro next year anyway, and then switch to the real deal after a bunch of people have bought the stopgap we want to abandon later!”

Or...?

“We’ll make anything... we don’t even have to know what or why or when! Our TouchPad success story is only the beginning!”

Or simply...?

“We have a clear, intelligent long-term plan to catch up to with what Apple started years ago. Users will give us tons of profit instead of wanting real iPads. Just wait!"

You dont announce something two years from now, which competes with something youre announcing ONE year from now, when youve repeatedly failed to deliver successfully. Whats the message here?

Our WebOS is great! Its open source so everyone can use it! But we wont be able to get it working ourselves for two more years.

Or...?

Web OS is better than Windows Metro, or we obviously wouldnt bother with it, but well ship Windows Metro next year anyway, and then switch to the real deal after a bunch of people have bought the stopgap we want to abandon later!

Or...?

Well make anything... we dont even have to know what or why or when! Our TouchPad success story is only the beginning!

Or simply...?

We have a clear, intelligent long-term plan to catch up to with what Apple started years ago. Users will give us tons of profit instead of wanting real iPads. Just wait!"

lol! This is just a mess. Very poor leadership.

The sad thing is that I when I was shown the TouchPad before its UK release I actually thought HP had a good thing going. Very slick OS with lots of potential.

We'll just have to see how things pan out in the future but for now I'm happy to stick with Apples solution/eco-system

First she took her sweet time deciding what to do with WebOS. When the announcement finally comes, there is no commitment at all to do either something tangible or to let go completely. A CEO is supposed to be decisive. Meg Whitman has not been that so far at HP.

I actually think that the tablet market is getting quite saturated for the moment and I can't see great gains for anyone after the holiday season and through 2012.

I also see the iPad numbers dwindling throughout 2012 and possibly until Apple brings forward a product that more closely parallels the productivity of a laptop.

I can see the v3 iPad maintaining a healthy presence in the tablet market but I do not see it being sold in the numbers we have seen for iPad 2; too many fire sales of various other tablets (and too many Fires being sold at fire sale prices) has definitely caused a saturation of a product that is still too limited to really lift itself off the ground... but that won't last for long and it will be Apple that produces the first tablet to really appeal to an even wider market.

The reason I say all of this is because it seems like a hell of a time for Whitman to even think that HP is going to be successful with a tablet product other than to throw another $500 million out the window having another fire sale (as stated by Apple ][ ) and saturating the tablet market even more.

You dont announce something two years from now, which competes with something youre announcing ONE year from now, when youve repeatedly failed to deliver successfully. Whats the message here?

Our WebOS is great! Its open source so everyone can use it! But we wont be able to get it working ourselves for two more years.

Or...?

Web OS is better than Windows Metro, or we obviously wouldnt bother with it, but well ship Windows Metro next year anyway, and then switch to the real deal after a bunch of people have bought the stopgap we want to abandon later!

Or...?

Well make anything... we dont even have to know what or why or when! Our TouchPad success story is only the beginning!

Or simply...?

We have a clear, intelligent long-term plan to catch up to with what Apple started years ago. Users will give us tons of profit instead of wanting real iPads. Just wait!"

Ya! nailed it!

"Swift generally gets you to the right way much quicker." - auxio -

"The perfect [birth]day -- A little playtime, a good poop, and a long nap." - Tomato Greeting Cards -

I think she'll do OK, personally. She's already demonstrated more leadership ability than that last clown.

I'll take a bet on that. I know you well enough from the boards to trust your word if you give it. $25 gift certificate to the Apple Store that she will not be CEO of HP by the last day of December 2012?

This bot has been removed from circulation due to a malfunctioning morality chip.

I'll take a bet on that. I know you well enough from the boards to trust your word if you give it. $25 gift certificate to the Apple Store that she will not be CEO of HP by the last day of December 2012?

I will agree to make you a friendly bet, good for bragging rights. Let's not spoil the fun by bringing money into it. I'll mark my iCal.

They fired Apotheker because of his waffling and all they get is more of the same high-priced, utterly incompetent management from that horrid, stupid woman.
You know what, HP? Why don't you hire me instead of Whitman. I will only take half her salary, and I don't think it's humanly possible for me to do a worse job than that moron.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

Meg Whitman is incompetent as is the entire HP board. Frankly, the entire board needs to be replaced and a competent CEO needs to be hired. To say that Meg Whitman is credible because she did such a terrific job at eBay is laughable. eBay would've done well regardless of who was in the CEO position. She was in the right place at the right time. That's all. No more, and no less.