HP is messing around with tablet development

Android and Windows devices fall by the wayside

HP's tablet strategy remains unclear. If the group caused a stir at the beginning of the year with the announcement of a Windows 7 device, then suddenly an Android tablet was planned for the fourth quarter. But now HP has also postponed the Android device until the end of the year. There are therefore many indications that the technology group wants to build a complete eco-system around the purchased Palm operating system webOS.

Quick action is required
"If HP wants to snack on the tablet cake, it has to hurry. Now a quick decision about the future mobile strategy is required," says technology analyst Saverio Romeo of Frost & Sullivan http://www.frost.com in conversation with pressetext. This is about the fundamental question of whether HP wants to use its name and brand to build a platform including an app store based on the Apple model, or whether it only wants to benefit indirectly from the tablet boom via the Android or Windows platform. {jumi [plugins/content/jumi/newsgrafik.php]}
Since HP is stopping or reducing development work for tablets with Windows 7 and Android, market observers assume the first scenario. With the Palm takeover, HP not only has access to the technically mature webOS operating system, but also to the developer community that has already been established, including the app store.

Functioning eco-system as an obstacle
The establishment of a functioning eco-system has so far proven to be an obstacle that can hardly be overcome for all Apple competitors. Because in addition to attractive hardware and software, it is primarily about the content available on the device. "Apple has followed a very linear strategy since the introduction of the iPod and iTunes, which increasingly binds customers to the Apple ecosystem," says Romeo.
The direct customer relationship, however, requires a strong brand that is associated with lifestyle and innovation. "Apple is unbeatable in this regard. Which manufacturer manages to produce regular queues in front of its shop," said Romeo to the press release. HP, on the other hand, is perceived more as a technology company than as a consumer brand, the analyst also sees a lot of catching up to do in this area.


iPad now also in Austria
While HP and other potential tablet challengers such as Asus, Dell or the German tablet hope WeTab are still scraping in the starting blocks, Apple continues to pull away unchecked. According to its own statements, the US group sold three million iPads in the first 80 days after the restricted sales start alone. Starting next Friday, the iPad will be available for the first time in nine other countries, including Austria, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

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