Palm Phones Return... Palm Pre 2, With webOS 2.0 (HPQ, AAPL, GOOG, VZ)

Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ) acquired Palm Inc. earlier in the year and there has been no new release, no new phones, and no new direction announced.  Until now.  H-P is showing off the Palm Pre 2 as the first new product since the Palm acquisition.  The release is in conjunction with the introduction of webOS 2.0.  We wanted to take a closer look since all the smartphone headlines in the world revolve around Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) for iPhones and Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) for Android.

HP said that the Palm Pre 2 availability status is “Coming Soon on Verizon Wireless” at via Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ), implying that the phone will arrive at Verizon stores in the coming weeks or months.

After taking a look at the website geared for the launch, the device looks extremely similar to the first edition of the Palm Pre.  It is also just matter of preference on use and interface because much of the same features are on competing smartphones.  Some benefits are the multi-tasking features that are easier than on many other smartphones as well as the keyboard and touschreen choice.  Another feature that is back is the touchstone charging device rather than a direct plug-in option for charging the phone.

Palm was a classic take-under by many counts rather than a highly aggressive takeover.  HP was the logical buyer because of 3Com and the old ties between 3Com and Palm.  So far, there has hardly been a peep about anything tied to Palm as Apple and Google seem to steal all the smartphone headlines.

Unless a day comes where the world is looking at Palm and H-P as the coolest smartphone device out there, then this is not going to generate enough to significantly move the needle at a company as large as H-P.

JON C. OGG