HP's UK PC boss denies plans to sell off his business

Yet he admits that it still might happen anyway

HP's head of Personal Systems Group (PSG) for the UK and Ireland Paul Hunter has sent out an open letter denying that the firm will be selling off its PC business.

He began by claiming that the belief that his firm is quitting the PC business is a misunderstanding.

"I'd like to firstly clear up any misunderstanding that has arisen from the earnings announcement around the future of the Personal Systems Group. There have been a number of incorrect stories saying that HP is quitting the PC business. Let me be absolutely clear in saying that at no stage has HP said it is quitting the PC business," he said.

However, Hunter admitted that although the firm is yet to make a decision on the future of the PSG, it is exploring three options: spinning off the PSG division, selling it or keeping it in the HP portfolio. Two of those three options will see HP exiting the PC market.

It could also be argued that those two options amount to the same thing: both "spinning off" and selling.

He added that HP has decided to stop supporting webOS hardware devices due to market dynamics, significant competition and a rapidly changing environment.

"Continuing to execute our former device approach was not in the best interest of HP and HP shareholders. HP is fully committed to the ongoing support and service of customers who purchased webOS devices," he said.

"I apologise that we have been slow to answer some of the questions around webOS. The sheer scale of interest in the discounted products took us a little by surprise. We are now working on ensuring everyone that owns a webOS device has a positive experience," Hunter concluded.