Reports: HP to spin webOS into new Gram division

Vendor giant to switch OS focus from consumer hardware to software and cloud, according to leaked memo

HP is to spin its webOS operations into a newly branded division to be called Gram, according to reports.

A story on the website webOS Nation cites unnamed employee sources and a leaked message from HP chief of staff Martin Risau, who claims the new divisions will mean webOS "is no longer a consumer hardware brand".

"We are a different company with focus on software, user experience, cloud, engineering and partnering. This change in identity will take some getting used to and that is normal," he writes.

The Gram division will reportedly unite HP's webOS platform and Enyo JavaScript framework operations. Risau urges employees to discuss the new brand with family and friends but to inform any inquisitive outsiders: "Gram is a new company. We are in stealth mode on our product offering".

"Tap your network," he adds. "Help us hire the best and the brightest, refer your friends and help us in our shared purpose as we continue our rise to the top. You can use the name to help us to recruit."

The future of the webOS platform has been up in the air for the past year since HP announced it was canning its TouchPad tablet PC, just a month after its launch. The operating system has been under HP's ownership since the vendor's 2010 buyout of mobile device maker Palm.