HTC has become the latest company to flag possible mobile OS intentions, by revealing it is weighing acquiring its own platform.
Chairwoman Cher Wang has been reported as stating that the company has internally debated buying an OS platform, but that it is in no hurry to decide whether to do so.
The comments have led to speculation that HTC could be considering buying out WebOS from HP, should the latter - as some expect - decide to sell.
The Taiwanese vendor is shaping up as one of the most likely buyers, after Samsung unequivocally ruled out acquiring the platform earlier this month.
Other pundits have suggested HTC could be a possible suitor for MeeGo, if rumors of Nokia and Intel seeking to exit the platform prove accurate.
But Wang indicated that HTC believes it can provide enough differentiation to existing platforms such as Android at the user interface and software layers, so it may decide it has no need for its own OS.
Regardless, her comments have added fuel to concerns that Google's planned $12.5 billion acquisition of Motorola Mobility could lead some Android handset makers to seek new platforms, for fear that Google may start granting preferential treatment to Motorola at their expense.