HP launches webOS in Asia-Pacific region

Plans to assimilate webOS into existing range of computer models as well.

SHANGHAI: HP has launched ‘A New HP World’ for its latest range of devices for the Asia-Pacific market. The event, attended by several HP upper level management officials, revealed the company’s vision and unveiled its latest products.

The event also marks the official ceremony of the ‘Everybody On’ marketing campaign in the region. The new campaign, though obviously made to promote its products, hints at what seems to be a new paradigm that HP is pursuing.

HP already has a ton of products in consumer houses and now by leveraging their interconnectivity, the company believes that it can make customer life easier by finding new ways of integrating their uses. For example, an HP printer will be able to wirelessly print images from an HP webOS-based phone – one of the products launched on Wednesday.

The company launched three webOS-based products - Palm Pre 3, Veer and HP Touchpad. The company believes that by making all of its products communicate seamlessly with each other, they can win over hearts and minds of the consumers.

Its new touchstone technology, which allows wireless charging of phones from a dock, also allows for data incoming on the phone to be accessed by tablets.

Officials also mentioned that their computers might run a webOS application layer over Windows 7. That could mean that HP would bring webOS to all existing customers, rather than just phones and laptops.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 24^th, 2011.