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HP to Acquire Palm

Hewlett Packard (HP), the venerable technology firm and computer manufacturer, announced today that it will acquire smartphone-maker Palm for $1.2 billion. HP intends to expand support and development of Palm’s well-regarded WebOS mobile operating system, scaling it to new phones and other devices like tablet computers.

Palm has been faced with a number of challenges recently, and while WebOS is much-adored by tech pundits and users it has not met with wide success in the marketplace.

According to preliminary information, Palm will continue to operate as a semi-independent business unit within HP and will retain much of its current leadership team, including CEO John Rubenstein. Palm shareholders will receive $5.70 per share and the merger is expected to close in the third fiscal quarter of this year.

As a Palm user and long-time Palm fan, I am cautiously optimistic about this turn of events. Hopefully it will lead to better phones and faster development of my favorite mobile operating system.

Scott Bradford has been putting his opinions on his website since 1995—before most people knew what a website was. He has been a professional web developer in the public- and private-sector for over twenty years. He is an independent constitutional conservative who believes in human rights and limited government, and a Catholic Christian whose beliefs are summarized in the Nicene Creed. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from George Mason University. He loves Pink Floyd and can play the bass guitar . . . sort-of. He’s a husband, pet lover, amateur radio operator, and classic AMC/Jeep enthusiast.