Samsung has announced that their R&D expenditure for 2011 is expected to total $9.3 billion, (10 trillion won, ) and as much as 50% of that has already been spent. The Korean company spent a similar amount last year. The expense is said to be divided in areas of mobile phones, semiconductors, displays and other electronics, thus helping Samsung compete better on a global stage.
Along with this release, Samsung also tries to highlight its patent strength, claiming it controls over 100,000 patents worldwide, and it was awarded as many as 4551 in US last year. Despite this, Samsung has faced stiff competition in courtrooms across the globe from Apple. Its delay in launching Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Australia and the EU verdict in favor of Apple are considered big blows. Samsung clearly is attempting to brush its image with patent claims. We cannot dispute Samsung’s presence in the components market, but innovation surely is irrespective of that. Since the Samsung release claims funds being allocated to software development, we wonder if they are planning to buy WebOS from HP.
HP is already looking at options for WebOS, and they surely won’t be doing hardware for webOS anymore. Selling off webOS would be a good solution for HP, who paid $1.2 billion to buy Palm + webOS last year. Samsung already makes Android, Windows Phone 7 and Bada phones, the only reason that builds a case against Samsung buying webOS / Palm unit from HP. Given that Apple has delivered a stellar hardware+software combo with iOS devices like iPad, iPod touch and the iPhone, any hardware maker buying a software co isn’t a rumor to be ignored. Even Motorola was cooking something with Azingo and other software initiatives.
Why Samsung Might Buy WebOS?
– Samsung hasn’t spoken, but they have reasons to be afraid of Google-Motorola deal. Truth be told, Google’s Android isn’t that lucrative anymore. Partly due to Motorola’s acquisition and partly due to the increasing number of lawsuits. WebOS lacks apps, but its tablet interface is considered much better than Android.
– Samsung’s Bada isn’t meant to be a super smartphone OS. It fills the gap between feature phones and samrtphones. Apart from that, Bada OS hasn’t seen much success.
– Samsung believes in betting on multiple horses. It has retained Windows Phone and Android, while developing Bada. It might well license WebOS to begin with and later on buy it out from HP, if not an outright purchase to begin with.
– Digitimes reports that Samsung has recruited HP’s ex-VP of PSG marketing and that hints a webOS buyout as well.
