LG Acquiring WebOS Software, Engineers From Hewlett-Packard

LG Electronics Inc. is acquiring Hewlett-Packard Co.’s WebOS mobile-software operations and hiring several dozen engineers who worked on the program, part of an effort to improve Internet-capable televisions.

Hewlett-Packard will retain WebOS’s patents and license certain technology to LG, Hewlett-Packard Chief Operating Officer Bill Veghte said in an interview today. LG Electronics, the world’s second-largest maker of TVs, plans to put the technology into Web-connected sets as early as next year, said Skott Ahn, the company’s president and chief technology officer.