HP's partners eyeing webOS 36
Earlier this week, CRN writer Kevin McLaughlin posted an encouraging article looking at some of HP’s partners and their initial explorations of webOS, and provides a bit more detail into how exactly they might use “scale” to their advantage. In it, McLaughlin describes some new companies joining the webOS development community, including Synnex, Bedrock Technology Partners, and more. Seeing that these companies have a focus on cloud computing and mobility, it makes sense that they’d see a big opportunity with HP and webOS. Knowing that these developers had already committed resources to other platforms like Windows Phone makes their allocation of time an energy toward webOS all the more exciting.
The article also looks at these new companies’ perspectives on webOS competing in the mobile space. One especially interesting take is that of Kristin Rogers, executive vice president of sales and marketing at PC Mall. According to Rogers, "HP sees this as a significant opportunity for businesses, and I respect the fact that they're not just treating it as a cool product... They're getting the channel to recognize that this is really a platform, much more than just a cool device."
Of course, we all know this is an uphill battle for HP, and this article doesn’t give short shrift to some of the challenges they face in trying to establish a foothold for webOS. Still, it highlights some interesting advantages HP has going into this fight, including robust channel distribution and marketing, and how these can provide a strategic advantage in everything from healthcare to point-of-sale industries.
This is great news to hear, especially knowing that the enterprise market is still evolving, and lately it’s been looking like traditional players in the space are having struggles of their own. Knowing that, this seems like a highly opportune time to for the TouchPad to make it’s enterprise debut. True especially since we've seen multiple providers of enterprise software voice their commitment to webOS, some as quickly as within hours of HP’s Think Beyond event. Certainly there's no doubt that iOS and Android have signficant presence here as well, but it’s still a huge positive that HP is flexing some of it’s distribution muscle to make a place for itself in this highly desirable sector. Also, HP's stance is unique in that it can do this from the ground up, functioning as an alternative to the iPad that fits neatly into existing enterprise IT systems and keeps a business model less likely to make channel partners uncomfortable.
Speaking of flexing it’s muscle, the article also mentions two substantial incentive programs HP will be offering to pave the way for partners to start developing for webOS: PartnerONE and an ‘Elite’ mobility program. PartnerONE will provide partners with market development funds, volume programs, deal registration and technology practice development beginning this summer. That by itself is nothing to sneeze at, and the Elite program promises even more substantial (though yet not clear) benefits when it rolls out next fall.
Source: CRN
36 Comments
First? Without a substantial advertising campaign, it just won't happen. HP could possibly forget a basic rule of selling anything, sell what people what and how they want. Has anyone seen a really phenomenal National Advertisement for ANYTHING HP?
No, and yet they still own the PC and printer markets. I have a feeling HP knows what it is doing.
HP is a hardware giant. The pre 3's quality will be top-notch
IF HP actually ever ships the Pre3.
I'm sure they do know what they're doing. I think CUSTOMERS kinda need to know what they're doing. Especially when there's new product for sale like the Veer.
I agree 100%
There maybe one good point for this. If they launch an advertising campaign for one since product and they know they would survive on the Eco System of WebOS. I wouldn't want to really advertise until I get EVERYTHING ready at one time. Maybe they just want to get the Veer out there to meet an agreement with AT&T? Maybe sprint said "they don't want a half-butt phone they want a new and improved i.e. Pre 3"
If they did bring out the Veer and no one liked it... what would make that same person look again at the TouchPad?, Pre3, etc? You and I would but what about that "other " person
Radar, the fanboys (us) are not their target. Enterprise is where HP will put it's focus. You and I are an afterthought. Betcha in HPalm's HQ we are called those bums on PreCentral.....
Lets hope Sprint gets the phones so we can "ride shotgun" with the corpo's.
Still, it highlights some interesting advantages HP has going into this fight, including robust channel distribution and marketing, and how these can provide a strategic advantage in everything from healthcare to point-of-sale industries.
The Veer was buried this weekend by T-shirts. Perhaps HP should thinking about partnering with Fruit-of-the-Loom. Their launch product didn't even make it into Best Buys and weren't on display in most AT&T stores.
Lord isn't that the truth? I seem to miss the big deals and never win any deals but I'd try out an HP product or app happily, I just ran across this post by chance! You are right though.
bd
go H/P go, Veer will be a success if you please advertise.
+1
why do I get downranked for being a cheer leader
Don't worry about rankings. Just say what you want/feel. Don't know why there wasn't even the basic marketing for the Veer.
Indeed. Out here on the front pages, it's Freedom Alley, baby. Say what you like.
in other news, the Veer launched yesterday. Where is the marketing??
HP "WILL" advertise the Veer (they have to 2 succeed)
I went to Best Buy in my town and no Veer nowhere! They had Infuse and Iphone ads everywhere, but not a peep about the Veer. Then, I went to AT&T and requested to see the Veer. The salesperson knew that they had one, but he didn't even know where it was. So, during his search, I ventured over to where the Veer should have been and low and behold, there it was!!!! There was not a single in-store advertisement or posterboard or even a flyer for this truly awesome device!!! Yes, I mean it is absolutely awesome from the build quality of the slider to the screen, to the keyboard! WebOS is really smooth on this phone and it's very fast in opening apps. Hell, it's so quick that I was done doing what I intended to do before I realized I was done...LOL! Have you ever had that feeling??
It's a damn shame that not one single store rep even offered to give me any info about this phone. I saw all kinds of ads for Iphones and the Infuse, but nothing on the Veer. I'm not just biased for WebOS, but this OS is truly awesome and powerful and now they have the hardware to match!
I know this phone has been getting knocked for it's charger and it's headphone connect, but a Touchstone and a pair of Bluetooth headphones will solve most issues.
I'm disappointed that HP has put yet another awesome phone(Pre2 included) into the consumer market without even so much as a whisper to it's carriers let alone the general consumer like you and me!
It makes you wonder why HP doesn't believe this device can stand on its own.
I think we might see a similar path as to what RIM took. Get solid in the business/enterprise market and then come back around to the consumer side. Those of us in the enterprise side will be using them both ways. Hopefully it isn't that cut and dry, but we can only hope.
Candidly, yesterday's veer launch was something less than optimal. You might even characterize it as a case study for what not to do.
But this article highlights the stability of WebOS and that it truly isn't going anywhere, regardless of what the "experts" (i.e. commenters) on this site seem to think in recent weeks.
This is promising news. But I also choose to look at my glass as half full.
HP "WILL" advertise the Veer (they have to 2 succeed)
The HP Pre 3 will be a hit!
To be fair on the lack of marketing, Kerris says it's intentional and implies that they have a coordinated campaign launching in a few weeks. I take him at his word for now, and will wait to see what pops off.
That being said....this article inadvertently highlights the only engine that will ultimately drive WebOS forward. From page 1:
"Organizations are supporting iPad because of USER DEMAND, but there's definitely a sense that the market would like a really good alternative to the iPad. And I think they are more comfortable with HP's business model."
If HP doesn't transform this OS, its app ecosystem, and its devices into lustworthy items that stir user demand, then they can "coordinate with channel partners in the enterprise blah blah blah" all they like. It won't take.
Really hope their initial wave of advertising that Kerris hinted at addresses this.
What Mikah said
"the Elite program promises even more substantial (though yet not clear) benefits when it rolls out next fall." (Coming months??)
It's nice to see that HP make false promises to EVERYONE, not just the end-users. Sorry. Had to...
I'll go back to waiting for my "make it right" solution again.
*Yawn*
To all the HP-doubters wondering how HP is going to integrate its mobile-portfolio (TouchPad, Pre-3, webOS) in synergy with all its other products and services in an instant-on environment of cloud-computing, please see (or follow) the event DISCOVERY 2011 in Las Vegas between June 6th through 10th. The main invitees are the reps (like CEOs, CIOs, CTOs)of HP's current clients, and they are plenty. HP will demonstrate how HP is integrating all its products and services in synergy with these cloud based system, say in a data-center set-up, and how nicely HP's mobility tools (TPs, Pre 3, webOS)enhance the experience and also keeping the whole thing secured, as opposed to using 3rd party mobile products. Once the client reps see this model then they will initiate to implement the whole process. So HP will provide them with shiploads of HP's products.
Does any of that matter to consumer end users, tho? (Which most of us here are)
Actually, yes. The DISCOVER event is the first time they've combined the software and hardware conferences, and webOS is in several places in the session catalog, and prominently highlighted on partner day, where HP gets the partner channel hyped for next year's initiatives. It's the partners who are going to give webOS and the hardware platforms the enterprise visibility it needs to make inroads on the business side, and that will put it in the hands of folks who will take it home and show it around. Blackberry never advertised until consumers started noticing it outside the enterprise.
Oh, and a clarification on PartnerONE. It's been around for a long time; it's the partner channel program all North American HP resellers and service providers are part of. There has been an increasing level of communication about webOS and the TouchPad and I do expect to see the conference used as the formal rollout.
Ok...so again, for non-enterprise average consumers...this matters because....?
HP should try releasing a webOS product or two before they tout how well they are going to integrate them.
HP needs to get tons of apps, and they need to get them right away, if the Touchpad is going to be successful. Honeycomb is ok, but I call it Noneycomb, because there are no apps built for it, and Android phone apps don't cut it. HP can sneak in and get ahead of Honeycomb, but the window is closing fast.
HP needs to get creative with devs to get them to make new apps and port existing one. My suggestion, for the little that it is wworth, is that HP offer to give any Apple or Android developer whose app has sold in significant numbers the money to port the app to HP. That's right, if an app has been sold to 20,000 people, or generated $30,000 in revenue (pick a number) HP will estimate the cost of porting that app to webOS, and pay for it. Since it has already proven popular, it will sell on webOS, and HP will get the money back if they just sell enough Touchpads (which need to have apps in order to sell....hence the need for this program.)
They could even offer to provide the manpower to port the apps. Have a stable of HP employees whose job is to port apps to webOS. They get the ok from corporate to do it for an iOS developer who has signed on, all the non-disclosure agreements are signed, and they go to town, at HP's expense. And then HP shares the revenue from the sales of the apps. And avoids having the Touchpad go down in flames. Because if it does go down, it will be known as the Douchepad soon enough. We can't have that.
They need to have hundreds of very good apps at launch, and thousands within a few months. They can't get there without some creativity on their part. The devs are too busy with things that make money. So do it for them, the devs don't have anything to lose, and it makes the project succeed.
I think HP knows what's best for them in the long run in corporate environments. I guess it is always better to have 10,000 very good useful and secure apps. than 100,000+ unsecured **** apps, isn't it ? Security is the essence in the corporate environment. HP cannot risk its billion dollar contracts for few million dollar app issues.
did you see the report about HP having a not-so-good quarter? I don't think they are in the position to throw out money to have those apps ported.
Well if they want business (enterprise) to use Pre3 and TouchPad then at Launch Quick Office editing version needs to be available as well as other popular business productivity tools; otherwise, TouchPad/Pre3 are dead in the water from business perspective.
They'll be yelling what we were yelling when Pre came out in June 2009... where the heck are the apps.
I am REALLY pulling for HP to win on this. I've been a PalmOS/WebOS loyalist since the days of the Handspring/Palm Pilot.
Ya know...I like HP...I like the Veer (even though it does not fit my immediate need), and I especially like the Pre 3 (which will fit my immediate need). I absolutely LOVED my original Sprint Pre. I made my purchase at lunch the day it was released, struggled with the issues and greatly appreciate the folks that work so hard to make it work the way it needed too. HP (Palm) is one heck of a community! The Apps have met most every need I had. When was the last time you scrolled through Apples' App Store or Android's Market? There is allot of 'filler' there. Six months ago I had to go EVO with Android. One word...clunky. It 'get's the job done'. That's all I can say. There is nothing like WebOS, elegant, beautiful, smooth, graceful, expansive...these are words that come to mind.
My patience has worn thin with Palm and now HP as well, yet if you truly are a fan...there is nothing else like it! Our software (and increasingly the hardware) cannot be touched. I wager to you all...2012 will be the year WebOS takes off. Just as did Apple (I mean really, Steve Jobs siphens off a little life force from every user everytime they use their iphone...he is a tech vampire and will have you! He is, after all, over 300 years old!), as did Android, etc. All we need do is continue patient...like we have any other choice.
In closing, I dare to say that every one of you that switched to another operating system will come running back to WebOS and HP just as soon as the new hardware hits. It is just that good. It's not a tool, it becomes part of you...a way of life. I'm just saying.
i think you are putting webos on a pedestal when it doesn't need to be. yes, we've said it time and time again, it is a great mobile os and it does have some really fantastic qualities about it. but it is not the end-all to everything, especially when integral things like hardware and good apps and the number of users and advertising and carrier support MATTER TOO. because webos is the most beloved os among users doesn't make up for the fact that it has to generate revenue, buzz, and it has to create users. this does not come easily when there are easily other os' that are doing amazing things and copying or not, they are impressing people with what they have been working on. this is a great time for consumers, because its very cut-throat and everyone is wanting a piece of that pie. but you must know that the ones who do not get a piece or even crumbs, they will not be here very long.
patience is good yes, but if everyone had the mentality of 'switching back in 2012 when things should be better,' then webos will fail very easily.