Palm Patents Get Another Chance At Qualcomm

This marks the second time in four years that the Palm patents have been sold to technology firms hoping to make use of the smartphone pioneer’s innovations.

Hewlett-Packard (HP) had phased out the Palm Operating System in favor of Google’s Android OS. HP has recently released tablets which are running under Microsoft’s Windows environment as well.

In 2010, HP paid a stunning $1.2 Billion for Palm’s portfolio of nearly 2,500 patents (1,000 registered under foreign countries, and 1,400 U.S.) and related intellectual property. HP announced at the time it’s entry into the growing smartphone market based on the Palm OS. Unfortunately, the HP smartphone business and a spin-off product line of tablet computers, was not financially successful. HP discontinued their Palm based products, and sold the rights to the mobile operating system (webOS) to television maker LG Electronics.

Neither Qualcomm nor HP disclosed the price of this deal.

It was not immediately clear what plans Qualcomm has for their new IP and Patent portfolio. it’s possible this is a strategy to increase their overall knowledge base and/or a means to protect themselves from potential lawsuits that have been increasing filed against technology companies from “patent trolls”.

Qualcomm did comment on the Palm patent acquisition that it will allow them to “offer even more value to current and future licensees” of their technology as well as advance innovations which include “fundamental mobile operating systems techniques”.

Qualcomm recently entered into the wearable computing market with ” Toq “, an internet connected smartwatch.

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