LG promotes its webOS for outside adoption

LG Electronics plans to make its operating system available to other companies for use in a wide range of applications and devices.

During the Qt World Summit 2018 held Wednesday and Thursday in Berlin, Germany, the electronics company introduced its vision to take webOS, an LG operating system, beyond just smart devices. LG utilized Qt Company software in the creation of webOS.

“We announced that LG will be actively working with other companies for the use of webOS,” explained an LG spokesman. “This includes developing artificial-intelligence platforms together and working with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.”

The company also mentioned the possibility of applying webOS to 5G technology, cars, robots and smart-home products.

“As some devices run on Android and Linux, LG Electronics smart devices run on webOS,” said the LG spokesman. “LG’s webOS operating system is characterized by its fast speed and user-friendliness.”

LG has utilized webOS in its own smart devices, like smart TVs, since 2014. The company’s smart electronics and digital signage products, which are interactive electronic displays for advertisements and menu boards, use the operating system.

LG’s webOS-based smart refrigerator features a Bluetooth speaker and a transparent touchscreen while supporting Amazon Alexa.

Earlier this year, LG Electronics introduced the webOS Open Source Edition, allowing all programmers to work with the operating system. The company also offers a software development kit for webOS.

LG is actively engaged in research and development to facilitate webOS use with the services and products of other companies.

“We will continue evolving the webOS network,” said LG Electronics President and CTO Park Il-pyung.

BY KIM EUN-JIN [kim.eunjin1@joongang.co.kr]