HP Definitely Changing Its Mobile Focus

Recently, there have been signs that HP is losing interest in traditional handhelds and switching its focus to converged devices.

This week, one of this company's top executives decided to stop beating around the bush and made it clear that this is what is really going on.

HP's Vice President for Consumer Products and Mobile Business Group in the Asia-Pacific region, Chin-Teik See, told CNET.com that his company believes that the traditional handheld market is shrinking at a rate of 30 percent a year.

Mr. See went on to say that, although his company still intends to put out more traditional handhelds, it will turn most of its efforts toward converged devices.

No Big Surprise

This announcement isn't really all that surprising.

It has been quite some time since HP introduced a new traditional handheld, while announcements of new converged devices have come more frequently.

Last year, for example, it introduced a model clearly aimed at competing with RIM's BlackBerry line and Palm's Treo series.

This year, HP has already announced one converged device, and rumors indicate that it has at least two more in the wings.

In contrast, there have been no rumors of upcoming traditional handhelds.

Some Definitions

So that there isn't any confusion, most people define a traditional handheld as one that lacks cellular-wireless capabilities.

A converged device, on the other hand, is either a smartphone or cellular-wireless handheld.

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