Microsoft Converting webOS Developers to Windows Phone

The head of Windows Phone 7 development at Microsoft wants developers who were creating webOS apps to switch platforms. This comes after HP announced that it was ending production of devices based on the webOS. 

Brandon Watson posted on his Twitter feed: "To Any Published WebOS Devs: We'll give you what you need to be successful on #WindowsPhone, incl.free phones, dev tools, and training, etc." This appeal was apparently successful -- Watson said later that he received over 500 responses in less than a day.

One of the problems HP had with the webOS was that there weren't large numbers of developers creating apps for it, at least not when compared with the development communities for Apple's iOS and Google's Android OS. Still, Windows Phone is also suffering a dearth of third-party app developers, so if Watson can bring in hundreds of new ones it will definitely be a win for Microsoft.  

HP Not Giving Up
Even though most people have have taken HP's announcement last week to end production of webOS-based smartphones and tablets as a sign that HP has abandoned this operating system, the company says that's not true. A post on the official webOS blog says, in part, "Far from burying webOS, our goal is to ensure the platform's evolution as a robust operating system for an increasingly mobile and connected world." 

HP has indicated that it intends to make printers and other accessories based on this operating system. It also might license the webOS to companies to use on handsets and tablets.   

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