Samsung may not be the only manufacturer eyeing buying its own mobile operating system. A report from Focus Taiwan indicates that HTC may also be considering such a move. In an interview with the Economic Observer of China, HTC’s chairwoman, Cher Wang, said,
“We have given it thought and we have discussed it internally, but we will not do it on impulse.
We can use any OS we want. We are able to make things different from our rivals on the second or third layer of a platform. Our strength lies in understanding an OS, but it does not mean that we have to produce an OS.”
The report adds that HTC, along with Samsung and other manufacturers, are interested in acquiring webOS from HP. While Samsung dispelled rumours that it was interested, HTC may still be looking at what benefits (including reducing their reliance on Android and associated patent wars) and challenges (such as having to build up the ecosystem around it) would come with such a move.