A report from DigiTimes claims that Samsung may be considering to buy webOS from HP in an effort to compete against Apple and fellow Android phone makers. Adding the fact that Google plans to acquire Motorola (and its treasure throve of patents), this has surely changed the way mobile phone companies do business. DigiTimes seems to stand by its scoop, despite Samsung refuting reports that it plans to buy HP's PC business and even recruit several top HP executives.

According to sources, Google's acquisition of Motorola may have triggered Samsung's plans to purchase webOS as a means to counter measure any threats that may come. Samsung, which has made devices that run on Google's Android OS, could be sensing that Google is planning to create more Android-based Motorola hardware. This despite Google's promises to leave Android open.

According to TechCrunch, Samsung needs "something to set it apart." While Apple has its iOS, Nokia will have Windows Phone 7 Mango, Motorola will have Android, and HTC has its vast supply chain, thus leaving Samsung to look for its own way to differentiate. Although webOS is not a popular mobile OS, that does not mean it is an awful software. WebOS has the simplicity of the iOS and the multi-tasking capability of Android, but not enough apps, which can be fixed.

Source: DigiTimes, via TechCrunch