(IMAGE SOURCE: NETBOOKNEWS.COM)

BY CHRISTIAN BRYANT

Christmas might have come a little early for some techies. Hewlett-Packard announced Friday that its mobile operating system, webOS, and Enyo application framework will now be available open source.

In a press release, HP says it plans to continue to develop the software and allow open source developers to do the same. Essentially, users will be able to make their own modifications to the operating system.  With those powers combined, HP says -- customers can expect to see new devices in the future. A writer for TIME says this might be a clever move by HP.

“Opening up WebOS is a cheap way to try and make it more popular. Instead of exhausting a huge amount of resources to build up the platform, HP can rely on outside help to make improvements and sell devices. The more widespread WebOS becomes, the more likely it is to attract app developers.”

But as one CNET writer notes, HP isn’t in the clear just yet. He says,

“There are two common outcomes when companies convert a complicated proprietary project into open-source software. One is that a vibrant community of contributors grows up around the project, expanding its abilities, broadening its popularity, and making it into a better component of a broader technology package. The other is that the project, tossed over its sponsor's transom, sinks beneath the waves.”

So, are there any takers? WebOS wasn’t particularly attractive to vendors under Palm Inc., the smartphone manufacturer, or HP. Even so, a writer for PC World thinks that some companies might be interested.

“LG, which has been late to the smartphone market and has a relatively small market share, might take an interest in webOS, said Chris Hazelton, an analyst with The 451 Group. A company looking to build a device like Amazon's Kindle Fire, which is not dependent on existing applications and services, might also be interested, he said. ‘There is a hunger for a high-level OS that is low cost and doesn't come with baggage...’”

Analysts also say open-sourcing WebOS could give HP an edge on its competitors, such as Apple or Google.

“Why ever would a company want to release a once-valuable asset as open-source software that anyone can use for free?... There can be good reasons. One of them is undermining your competitors. If you can build a vibrant community around a free product that your competitor charges for, you can steal a little of that competitor's thunder.”

As for HP’s TouchPad tablet, the mobile device on which the WebOS operated, HP is planning to hold a December 11 firesale of that device on eBay.