We certainly hope you have not just spent your hard earned money on a webOS device when reading this. In today third quarter results report, the computer behemoth announced that it "will discontinue operations for webOS devices, specifically the TouchPad and webOS phones."

According to HP, "The devices have not met internal milestones and financial targets." To put it better in plain language,they did not sell enough webOS devices hardly a surprise given the lack of developed apps for the webOS ecosystem.

The beautifully looking OS might just continue living on in printers or cars entertainment/navigation systems, or get licensed to an interested party. However, as far as mobile devices are concerned, it is all over.

HP TouchPad users grew impatient yesterday as HP promised an update to the tablet at the end of July. Good things come to those who wait, it seems, as the update has just started rolling out today. Sure, its a day late, but better than never.

Apparently, the developers have been hard at work on this update, and we can probably expect a very polished upgrade once it finally starts hitting TouchPad tablets.

HP and AT&T just announced that the US carrier will be getting a pimped up version of the TouchPad in time for the back-to-school season. The AT&T-edition of the webOS slate will have its dual-core CPU clocked at 1.5GHz, rather than the 1.2GHz of the regular one.

The AT&T-bound TouchPad will also be packing 4G connectivity, which will make it the first version of the slate with network data connectivity. Unfortunately, this will not be an LTE radio, but a 3G one with 21 Mbps HSPA capabilities, but thats still cool.

We are hoping that the CPU boost will take care of the lagging issues that were widely discussed in the first batch of TouchPad reviews that surfaced. The webOS-slate implements some pretty cool UI design ideas and we would really want to see it succeed. Not to mention that more competition always leads to better products.

HP needs to do something about it to excite the market and the media about the platform. Android is taking over the world, iOS will have its dedicated following and there is Microsoft pouring billions in Windows Phone 7. So what can HP do? It's too late to repeat Apple success, so a different strategy is needed.

They are now too late to pitch Nokia, The Korean company is the world second largest handset maker with ambitions to become the number 1. An array of devices covering every aspect of the market - from super-low-end feature phones to high-end smartphones is there, covering every possible price point. In addition, Sammy also has a vast distribution network, rock-solid supply chain, and a whole portfolio of patents. All said its the company every platform maker should pitch. And most of them already did so there are Samsung smartphones running both Android and Windows Phone 7.

HP should convince Samsung to make webOS devices

We've already heard HP is thinking to license webOS. If they manage to convince Samsung to jump on board they may actually have a chance to fight Google and Microsoft. What the "webOS world" needs is the webOS-based Galaxy S II. Moreover, the webOS-based Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Galaxy Tab 8.9 could help the platform as well.

Whats in it for Samsung?

They already have their own platform, though that has not stopped from making smartphones running other mobile platforms. The way I see it, they could only benefit from such a partnership with HP taking part of the bill. What Samsung should do is use the existing hardware and simply cram new software (webOS) inside. HP could additionally help with marketing and distribution of the new devices, pitching its enterprise clientele.

Lets face, not many people like the TouchPad. The money HP asks for its first webOS tablet gets you a comparable Android-based tablet and even the Apple iPad. As far as I can tell, more tablet hardware options are needed to make webOS appealing to developers.

Samsung cool but thats not enough

If I were at HP I would also be interested to have Asus on my side. What the Taiwanese company is doing is extra-ordinary. Their existing line-up includes the Eee Pad Transformer and that phone turned tablet - Padfone. Those two devices alone could help a LOT. Then there is Amazon, but I already covered that scenario.

There is potentially some bad news if you are a webOS fan on Sprint, as a new rumor suggests that the Pre 3 will not be coming to Sprint and that HP has no immediate plans to produce webOS products for this carrier in the immediate future.

The report comes from unnamed sources and its a far cry from Sprint being the carrier that was thought to bring Palm back to glory with the launch of the original Pre a few years ago. Considering this may be the last carrier that has unlimited data offerings, its kind of a shame.

The HP Pre 3 does look like a cool handset with its 1.2 GHz Snapdragon processor and the latest version of webOS, so look for it to perhaps land on AT&T and Verizon later this summer. If you happen to have picked up a TouchPad tablet, the Pre 3 will also have some cool Touch-to-Share features.