Computer manufacturer Hewlett-Packard has said that it is studying Google’s open-source Android operating system to decide whether it would be useful for its products.
But the company has not said that it will use the software in any device.
“HP is acknowledging that we are studying the Android operating system,” a spokeswoman told Information Week. “We want to assess the capability that Android may have for the computer and communications industry.
“As to how and when HP might produce any products using the Android OS, we don’t comment on any speculation like that.”
While the Android OS was designed for use in mobile phones, a number of groups such as start-up Mobile Facts have managed to design the system to run on low-powered netbooks.
Patrick Stafford is a freelance journalist and a former deputy editor of SmartCompany.
