Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE:HPQ), which recently decided to discontinue webOS devices including TouchPad, is splitting its webOS division into two, according to a Wall Street analyst.

Last month, California-based HP said it would exit the PC business to focus on software. But, it didn't say what it would do with the webOS software, which it bought along with the $1.2 billion acquisition of Palm.

However, Global Equities Research analyst Trip Chowdhry, referring to corporate e-mails, said that HP is splitting its webOS team into two, Hardware and Software.

The e-mail from Todd Bradley, Executive Vice President Personal Systems Group, said: We have decided that we'll be most effective in these efforts by having the teams in webOS software engineering, worldwide developer relations and webOS software product marketing join the Office of Strategy and Technology under Shane Robison. This change is effective immediately. The remainder of the webOS team, under Stephen DeWitt, will continue to report into PSG.

These emails have been posted on a Public Forum and Developers we spoke to think these email communications are genuine, Global Equities Research analyst Trip Chowdhry said.

As a result, the webOS software engineering, developer relations, and software product marketing teams will become a part of OS&T, effective immediately, Shane Robison EVP, Chief Strategy and Technology Officer said in an email to webOS teams.

Ari Jaaksi, senior vice president leading webOS software engineering, and Richard Kerris, vice president leading webOS worldwide developer relations, will report to Robison. Meanwhile, Lee Ott, the senior director of webOS software product marketing, will report to Jaaksi.

The webOS software employees would join HP Cloud Services, Vertica, and Business Solutions as an incubating business group. However, while these teams will be joining OS&T we have decided not to initiate any integration activities. These teams will continue to operate under their current systems and processes until further notice.

The webOS software is still a great asset. I am excited with the opportunity we have ahead of us and I look forward to the success of the team as a part of OS&T. Please join me in welcoming them, Robison's mail added.

The strategy of splitting a unit into two didn't work with Palm which had split itself in to two namely palmOne and PalmSource. PalmSource was acquired by Japanese company Access.

Following are the two mails:

Nyse California HP California