Google has silently poached the HP team behind the webOS Enyo HTML 5 development project, according to sources. In an exclusive report on Thursday, May 21, The Verge revealed that HP's webOS team will be moving to Google. Later on Thursday, AllThingsD narrowed it down to about half a dozen, including project chief Matt McNulty.
The team-switching was reportedly gradual, following a series of individual hires. "Google didn't strike a deal with HP to acquire the technology, according to a source but has been talking with individual workers over the past month," reported AllThingsD. "Rather, each of the workers making the move was hired individually by Google, with the team set to regroup at their new employer next month."
Potential Plans for the New hire
It is not yet certain what the team will be working on at their new employer, but Google has proved a fan of HTML5 apps. Moreover, the search giant's efforts to boost its Chrome OS project depend on the availability of numerous Web apps. Android could be another option, as it could learn plenty of tricks from the innovative webOS platform.
The intriguing aspect here remains that Google chose to hire the team after individual negotiations, but did not acquire the technology. The search giant may not have eyed Enyo or webOS, but this talent hire is interesting nonetheless. Google already has its popular Android platform, but Chrome could be a more likely outlet for the new hires. Aside from being a browser, Chrome is also the very foundation of Google's own operating system, as ZDNet's Zack Whittaker points out. Upcoming versions of Chrome and Chrome OS could feature interesting applications build on Enyo, especially now with the open source software.
HP's Open-Source webOS Plans Still on Track
Meanwhile, what HP will do with the remains of the webOS is equally uncertain. HP said it would make efforts to fund it as an open source project, but the webOS team has seen considerable layoffs this year. Just a couple of days ago HP announced it would cut 27,000 jobs, i.e. roughly eight percent of the company's total workforce, in an effort to save around $3 - $3.5 billion after fiscal 2014. HP, however, reiterated its commitment to Enyo and said its open-source webOS plans are still on track.
"We're pleased with the traction Enyo has gained to date and plan to continue its development along with the open source community," HP said in a statement to The Verge. "The Open webOS project is on schedule and we remain committed to the roadmap announced in January."
