HP Sells webOS Operating System To LG Electronics

PALO ALTO (CBS/AP) - Hewlett-Packard said it is selling its webOS operating system technology to South Korea's LG Electronics Inc. for an undisclosed sum.

Hewlett Packard Co. and LG said on Monday that LG will use webOS to support its "smart TV" technology. Like smartphones, smart TVs are web-connected and allow for more interaction between the device and its user. LG and rival Samsung Electronics showed off smart TV models earlier this year ahead of the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

HP bought the struggling smartphone maker Palm Inc. for nearly $1 billion in 2010, hoping Palm's webOS would boost its standing in the mobile market. This did not happen.

In late 2011, HP made webOS available as open-source software for anyone to use or modify for free.

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