Palm stock jumping again on buyout rumors. Magic 8 Ball says ...HTC 78
Palm's stock is up around 10%, over $5.00 per share as of this writing for the first time since their dark earnings call on March 18th. The reason today is the same as the reason earlier this week: buyout rumors.
Whereas before it was Lenovo rumored to buy Palm (with a tiny side of RIM), this time it's a story at udn.com (Chinese site Economic Daily News) speculating that it'll be HTC. Interactive Investor does the translating for us, noting that the udn report cites "market speculation" and stern "no comments" from HTC. If it wasn't making the stock jump, as Marketwatch notes, chances are you wouldn't even be reading about it on these fine pages.
We'll admit that Lenovo makes a bit more sense to us that HTC - HTC has made a very strong Android play and seems committed to both it and Windows Phone 7, webOS just doesn't seem to integrate well. This despite the fact that Palm and HTC have worked very closely together in the past, with HTC acting as a original device manufacturer for Palm and in some cases, may have even helped design a Treo - the Treo Pro.
Thanks to everybody who sent this in!
78 Comments
Wow this is a very rare occasion for me... "FIRST!"
Its great to know palm stocks are rising... This means I will not have to loose my job! wohooo!!
Why didn't I buy stocks last week????
good :-)
HTC EVO - Featuring Palm OS!!! I would be all over this like the hooker I had..... uh, never mind.
Anyways, please make it so.
if by Palm OS you mean WebOS, yes indeed!
I must be stuck in 2006
Well, if he's happy with used women, he might be happy with a used O/S.
If the Evo came out with webOS...
I'd DEFINITELY buy it. Sadly enough for Palm though I'm still considering switching to the Evo when it comes out. I love webOS way more than Android but... but...
4G, 4.3" screen, Snapdragon, Front Facing Camera, mobile hotspot at the cost of physical keyboard and webOS? Tempting since the 4.3" screen should make the soft keyboard easy to use and Android ain't that bad.
4G is great if you live in one of those limited areas and are not mostly on WiFi already anyway.
I saw, demoed the EVO at CTIA. The screen realestate is very nice, but it is a big phone and you will not be putting that puppy in your back or front pocket and carrying it around.
And Android still reminds me way to much of WinMo 6.0 with some nice Google apps.
HTC... FTW!!!!!
HTC makes a lot of sense to me because of the pending lawsuits from Apple. HTC's hardware is traditionally better feeling than Palm's, and better received.
And Palm owns a boatload of handheld device patents that they can come back at Apple on.
Has anyone looked at the realtime clock for Palm Stock? It keeps going up every second. I think its not the HTC Rumors, but more the fact that someone got an X11 server running on it. You Rock Palm!
Yeah... I'm certain that Wall Street investors care about an open-source X11 server implementation.
An HTC EVO 4G running WEB OS....SWEETNESS
Adding WebOS to a HTC would take several months, but it sure would be fun to watch the moops already lined up for Evo kick themselves throughout their contact. :)
I'd really like to see Palm stay independent, but I'm not going to lie, if HTC buys Palm I'll be ECSTATIC (and VERY impatiently waiting a webOS EVO like device!!!).
The only thing I could see going wrong with a deal like that is HTC trying to make changes to webOS that doesn't make sense...Sense UI that is!
so what is it? Are they just picking random name out of a hat? A few months back it was speculation of Nokia, a couple days ago it was Lenovo and today it's HTC....maybe tomorrow it'll be Hasbro. We can start seeing "My first Smartphone" marketed to 8 year olds, complete w/ WebOS.
LMAO
I'd buy it - my 3 year old already loves my Pre ;-)
"My first smartphone" (for 8 year olds)
Wouldn't that be the Apple iPhone?
I mean considering all the lacking features and how locked down it is.
...Just saying.
Fisher Price is making one. We all pitched in to buy Palmparchma two of them. We figure he'll still need special handling. I can see him cracking the display by smacking it into the edge of his texting helmet. (wipes the drool from parchma's bib).
He's thrilled with anticipation!
glad I bought some shares yesterday!
Most of these rumors are spread by analyst, so then they can bad mouth the company later and make money on them w the rise and drop later. Palm is just easy to play right now. The likely hood of us joining HTC is very very small.
Where can you buy that case at?? I LOVE it. It's my background for my desktop. It helps me remember to keep it together even though I'm sitting here at work, watching my software interface be converted into a newer, slower, less featured version than the one it's replacing.
Maybe HTC is afraid that Mr. Jobs will win the lawsuit, rendering Android crippled, so they would then need a new OS.
Licensing Webos to HTC might be a good idea. Palm stays in control of the OS and we get HTC's hardware. I wish the Pixi was spec'd like the Pre Plus. The slider is mostly irritating to me. Best case scenario WebOS on a 5" tablet, akin the the Dell Mini 5 with a virtual keyboard. They really need to work on the auto-correct.
Couldn't disagre more on the autocorrect. I've received more mangled emails and texts from autocorrect enabled phones than I'd care to count. 1. manufacturers should make the keyboard large enough to be usable. 2. Users should learn to spell.
I suppose having one with an easy to reach option to disable it would be a great compromise.
The HTC buy-out rumor just doesn't make sense to me. If HTC & Palm are really in talks with each other, a more likely scenario is that Palm will be licensing their OS for HTC to make a device running WebOS - not purchase Palm.
If they took the approach that MS/Google take where the primarily focus on the OS/Software, while risky, it would allow them to save all that money they are currently spending in hardware R&D - which many say isn't their strong suit anyway.
If HTC does make a device running WebOS and Palm can make money on the agreement, that would be all fine and good with me.
I think it would make more sense for Palm to have HTC design/make a Palm branded device (as they have done in the past, and as Google currently does w/the N1). Palm is running on fumes and would save a lot of $$ on r&d by having HTC make their next phone.
It's more likely that this is what's going on and the "analysts" are just overreacting. Drop WebOS into the EVO's body (though preferably with a litle form factor work) and you have the slab offering that so many want with tiptop hardware and the best OS on the market.
Good news since I bought recently at 3.7 :)
Wonder if its about a collaboration on Palm's next phone and not a buyout..
NOOOO!
I would love for HTC hardware, but...
HTC will be buying Palm for the patents!
If that's the case, then HTC would probably open source WebOS and it could be better for everyone in the long run.
I agree 100%. I don't think HTC wants to manage 3 different OS and they've already invested too much in Android e Win Mob to go back. HTC would keep the patents and sell webOS to someone else but splitting it from Palm's patents would make webOS much weaker.
Please NO HTC!!!
That could still be a good thing. WebOS itself might cease to exist, but with HTC owning the patients they could license them and/or open source them to AndroidOS and finally fill the feature gaps there. AndroidOS with WebOS features would stand a great chance of unseating iPhone OS.
Agreed. HTC wouldn't want Microsoft and Google to view them as a potential competitor, so WebOS might end up being used as a hollow proprietary front end for one of those operating systems. They would however probably jump at the chance to never be sued by Apple (or anyone in the mobile phone market) ever again, so the patent portfolio would be well worth it.
Personally I kind of like the idea of Palm licensing their software to HTC, but that SOUNDS a bit too much like PalmSource/PalmOne for me to feel completely comfortable.
If Palm absolutely HAD to be bought out (still don't think they should be), someone like Lenovo might be best. They have no real mobile phone presence, and after seeing how well they've done with the ThinkPad brand and keeping its ideals, it might be positive.
well it is confermed they are in talks:
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Shares of Palm Inc. /quotes/comstock/15*!palm/quotes/nls/palm (PALM 5.19, +0.54, +11.60%) rose nearly 12% to $5.19 in pre-market trade on Friday after reports HTC Corp. of Taiwan said in a regulatory filing that it would not comment on a published reports that it was in talks to acquire the smartphone maker. Earlier in the week shares of Palm rallied on speculation it might be acquired by PC maker Lenovo.
it would make sense really, HTC worked with Palm very closely, and think about HTC merging or buying Palm, using Web OS as their front running OS in their products, they could go independent because they know people buy most of their device just because it looks good. Now if they have the best OS on the market and already make the best phones it would be a win win for HTC. They could become the new Apple, considering they let Rub and the Palm internals continue on developing the Web OS. HTC could then produce a massaive amount of phones for each carrier world wide in all different shapes and sizes. That would not only knock google off the map, but also Apple being that they have more of the best OS out there on every carrier. I love to say Palm stay independent, but a merge with HTC would create a dynasty.
umm...
"that it would not comment on a published reports that it was in talks to acquire the smartphone maker."
Where does that same confirmed... lets see it doesn't.
Lets see published reports = anaylsts that are talking there heads off. There has been no such information out there stating that palm or anyone is offically in talks for a buyout. This buyout talk is getting boring.
+1
That sounds like "Thinker" type of "evidence".
'No comment' makes something true?
I don't think that Lenovo buying Palm would make near the mass hysteria and hype that HTC buying Palm would. HTC buying Palm would give them that even more huge warchest of patents to fend off the likes of Apple.
I'm not saying that I don't want Palm to stay their own entity, but HTC buying out Palm wouldn't be such a horrible thing. HTC doesn't have the Apple like mentality and heck, I don't even think that it would affect Palm all that much. It could actually make for a powerhouse team. HTC owns the subsidiary company Palm and makes devices that uses webOS (drool), and they can still make devices that run Android as well. HTC could be the juggernaut that takes on the Apple train after all. Think about it. HTC offers 3 main flavors: stock Android, Android + Sense UI, and webOS.
Not saying I'm for it or against it, but it's definitely interesting to think about.
-BeeRad
Nice persons placed these rumors, that keeps the interest in the stock high...and palm can concentrate on the R&D...and sell their phones...HTC does some nice hardware...but do really want them to take over R&D of palm? I don't know...
HTC is mired in a lawsuit with Apple right now over patent infringements. Really the best way to avoid patent lawsuits between companes these days is to have patents of your own that you know your competitors are violating -- which Palm has and why Apple hasn't gone after them yet. It would make a ton of sense for HTC to buy Palm right now just for the patents to make their lawsuit with Apple go away. On the other hand, I'll bet Apple would sure like to have some of those patents...
This is *the* best reason, and the *only* reason anybody should be interested in Palm. Sell Palm, sell!
Of course, not because they have the single best OS out there...
Best case scenario in this situation IMO would be that Palm is in talks with htc to license their OS to make handsets, lenovo to make a sweet tablet, and is in talks with RIM to license Blackberry Connect (again) to court more businesses and to use BBM this time.
Even better would be if Palm is in talks with HTC to give/license some patents in exchange for money or for help to design better hardware. It would be an alliance against Apple: HTC win and Palm win remaining independent.
HTC could buy them and dissolve Palm just for the patents and come out ahead in the game. Hmmm....
personaly I would love sense on webos...
I have a rumor from Taiwan for you guys.
Someone clams this information come from his friend in HTC. According to his post about HTC's future product roadmap.
If HTC really buy PALM.
HTC will only provide WebOS devices as low end product.
Android os for medium and high end model.
So one way I can see this succeeding with HTC is this. HTC buys Palm giving HTC access to the Palm patent list to fend off Apple. HTC keeps Palm and it's brand as a separate wholly owned subsidiary with a focus on software. HTC takes over the manufacturing of the hardware and begins offering it's hardware with a variety of flavors think Evo with Android, WebOS, Win7 based on geography, carrier, or personal choice. HTC can then reduce some of it's licensing costs through use of WebOS while increasing hardware sales and creating a more robust ecosystem of choices for the consumer. It's win-win. It faces the fact that Palm is not producing innovative hardware as much as it's producing innovative software and leverages that core value.
im considering an htc evo 4g when my contract ends december but i really love webOS.
if by that time Sprint doesnt come out with a pre plus, or a pre 2, sans home button, and with mobile hotspot (because apparently they CAN do that now), then im going for the htc.
or maybe not :/
atleast if sprint gets the pre plus, ill be sold :)
coz my mom wants the evo and i dont want the same phone as her >.>
besides. id rather stick with something i know and love (webOS) than have to learn a new OS all over again and succumb to the evil matrix-viral-agent-smith-like androidOS powered phones -_- (i say viral agent smith-like because now, before our eyes, android is EVERYWHERE which sucks and is SOO creepy)
palm FTW
htc be iight.
it soo be iight
it be so iight, it has no idea how iight it truly be o.o
...but gawd mobile hotspot is tempting.
damn it sprint, fix yourself x_x
holy ball sack. PALM is 5.1%
personaly I would love sense on webos...
One word... blech
I think it makes some sense. HTC would own its own OS.
The other thing would be the law suite from Apple. If HTC acquires Palm and all its patents, it may scare Apple away. Apple can still sue the Android or WinMo based handsets, but they probably don't want to push too hard, because HTC can counter sue on other patents.
usually... we are the LAST to find out.. buyouts usually want the stock at rock bottom... the stock jumping on this news is not good for buyout... it will quiet down and in a month stock will drop a little... and BOOM.
HTC is a phone manufacture. People keep posting they are invested in Android and Windows. They use other companies OS's and are not really invested in them. Yes they modify Android to work with their devices, but thats not the same as owning your own OS. Buying Palm would solidify them as a Cell Phone Company in complete control of their devices. Even if we ended up with a Android/Web OS hybrid, it could be a big step forward.
They did invest. They spent R&D time and effort to come up with custom UIs like TouchFLO for HTC Touch and Sense UI for Android.
I would not mind this if its true. BUT PALM NEEDS TO ANNOUNCE ITS NEW DEVICE NOW WHILE THE IRON IS HOT. Everything is falling into place Apple is picking fights with everyone. Reserve 10 mil for advertising and do it.
Or eve announce that there will be a new PALM headset made by HTC. With webOS. DO SOMETHING PALM Dont just sit there. Rubi you know all the tricks APPLE has use them for god sake. PLZ PLZ PLZ.
@72H
IF PALM ANNOUNCES NEW HARDWARE NOW, THEY WILL CHOKE AND DIE ON THEIR CURRENT SURPLUS OF HANDSETS THAT WILL INSTANTLY BE OBSOLETE!!!
Have you been paying attention? Palm is drowning in inventory.
So sit on inventory is the solution? Blow it out and come with a new device. Sitting on inventory is bad also. I have been paying attention since my handspring set.
LOL, they are blowing it out. And it still wont go out the door. Any other ideas? Share them with Ruby. Free units, free second units, free hot spot...
The phrase "death spiral" has been uttered. Announcing new hardware makes the spiral steeper. Be careful of what you hope for.
Let me math this out for you. Estimates a few weeks ago were as high as 1.15 million units. Its probably not really that high, but if it's half that much, that's about four months of units at the current sales level (which has been slowing). 100,000 units as a block, say has about $125 per unit of cost in it (could be higher). So, for every block, thats twelve and a half million dollars of Palm's money.
Make your best guess about how many hundreds of thousands of units and extend out that amount per block and decide how many millions of inventory you'd like Palm to pay Waste Management to haul away for recycling.
HTC makes sense. HTC will gain a boatload of patents by acquiring palm and sue the pants off apple.
I dont mind, palm made great WebOS but apparent is pretty dumb in all the management aspect. The dumb ads, dumb exclusive, slow pace of developing the WebOS, inability to fix speed issue after almost a year.
Take HTC on, I already have a Pre, i have nothing to lose.
Exclusivity with a new device is pretty standard across the industry. And slow pace of development? Seems to me we get updates pretty speedily and regularly, especially for a fairly small company.
Slow speed of development on WebOS? Is this your first smart phone?
Exclusivity is normal and last time I checked the phones are speedier. Only so much you can do without updating RAM and processors.
The ideal thing would be Palm to license the OS to HTC. This way palm gets known worldwide for a great OS and then maybe they could use the money to make a high quality phone. (must have a qwerty though!)
Hell yeah, a Nexus One running WebOS? I'd be all over it !
QUICK, QUICK, QUICK!!!
Somebody make a Palm Buyout Magic 8 Ball app!
personaly I would love sense on webos...
yes, you already said that. Sense is anice upgrade over what android had been using, but with WebOS, that's like comparing a Mustang to a Porsche.
HTC EVO 4G TO HIT RETAIL STORES ON JUNE 13TH
And yet again everyone forgets about Palm's massive patent portfolio! Didn't Apple just slap a major lawsuit on HTC! With palm's patents behind them that looks like at least some cross licensing; that my common man's perspective!
How does Lenovo make more sense? They don't even make smartphones, the last thing Palm needs is to partner with a company that doesn't have a clue what they're doing. Palm needs WORLD CLASS hardware, and as far as I can tell that would mean HTC, Samsung, or maybe Dell.
HTC has come a long way quickly. They went from making other peoples phones to being a household name in a few years, an amazing feat. The chair of HTC Cher Wang, definitely has ambition and she definitely wants her company to be more than just a smartphone maker (she's also the chair of VIA). However while they have lots of great experience with hardware, software has always been a bit of a letdown (for both companies). Buying Palm would make sense as WebOS could be used for a lot more than smart phones. WebOS would make a great tablet. If HTC really wants to be the next apple, buying palm would be a good first step.