HP 剛剛宣佈將會買下 Palm，以12億美元，每股 5.7美元的價錢收購 Palm，預計將於 7月31日完成。一般預期 Palm CEO 將維持不變，HP 更表示除了傳統的 Smartphone 外，未來也有可能推出使用 Web OS 的 Tablet、Netbooks 等等，難道未來會有 Palm Slate 的推出嗎？
Palm 被 HP 買下到底是好事，還是壞事？石先生早前已有提過自已的意見，實在難以估計啊！
HP 雖然貴為電腦業鉅子，但其 iPAQ 品牌早已名存實亡。若 HP 收購 Palm 能夠重新立足於 PDA 及 智慧型手機市場，只是 HP 真的有心回歸曾經風光的 PDA 市場嗎？而且 HP 過去收購多家公司後的表現均令人失望（經典必然是 Compaq），市場及投資者又是否有信心把公司售予 HP 呢？好處是 HP 銷售網絡遍佈全球，加上資金雄厚，若收購 Palm 後，認真經營，Palm 也許能夠咸魚翻生。
官方新聞稿：
PALO ALTO, Calif. & SUNNYVALE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–HP (NYSE: HPQ – News) and Palm, Inc. (NASDAQ: PALM – News) today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which HP will purchase Palm, a provider of smartphones powered by the Palm webOS mobile operating system, at a price of $5.70 per share of Palm common stock in cash or an enterprise value of approximately $1.2 billion. The transaction has been approved by the HP and Palm boards of directors.
The combination of HP’s global scale and financial strength with Palm’s unparalleled webOS platform will enhance HP’s ability to participate more aggressively in the fast-growing, highly profitable smartphone and connected mobile device markets. Palm’s unique webOS will allow HP to take advantage of features such as true multitasking and always up-to-date information sharing across applications.
“Palm’s innovative operating system provides an ideal platform to expand HP’s mobility strategy and create a unique HP experience spanning multiple mobile connected devices,” said Todd Bradley, executive vice president, Personal Systems Group, HP. “And, Palm possesses significant IP assets and has a highly skilled team. The smartphone market is large, profitable and rapidly growing, and companies that can provide an integrated device and experience command a higher share. Advances in mobility are offering significant opportunities, and HP intends to be a leader in this market.”
“We’re thrilled by HP’s vote of confidence in Palm’s technological leadership, which delivered Palm webOS and iconic products such as the Palm Pre. HP’s longstanding culture of innovation, scale and global operating resources make it the perfect partner to rapidly accelerate the growth of webOS,” said Jon Rubinstein, chairman and chief executive officer, Palm. “We look forward to working with HP to continue to deliver industry-leading mobile experiences to our customers and business partners.”
Under the terms of the merger agreement, Palm stockholders will receive $5.70 in cash for each share of Palm common stock that they hold at the closing of the merger. The merger consideration takes into account the updated guidance and other financial information being released by Palm this afternoon. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of domestic and foreign regulatory approvals and the approval of Palm’s stockholders. The transaction is expected to close during HP’s third fiscal quarter ending July 31, 2010.
Palm’s current chairman and CEO, Jon Rubinstein, is expected to remain with the company.
