As last week came to an end, Helwlett-Packard CEO Meg Whitman announced her company’s plans for webOS – they’re going the open source route.  And it looks like this could shake Google’s world, with webOS as an open source platform encroaching on their own territory.  Even our very own SiliconAngle CEO John Furrier is very adamant about the fact that webOS is a great mobile OS, and Android should be worried.

In one scenarios, webOS could put RIM back on the map, as the smartphone maker clearly needs a reliable mobile OS to build out its ecosystem.  It’s one example of how HP’s mobile platform efforts could enhance one of Android’s competitors, similar to how Nokia’s being leveraged by Microsoft to get ahead in the mobile platform game.

Additionally, other OEMs would likely look into using webOS on their devices since Google’s “openness” has always been an issue.  The term ‘open’ kind of gives you the idea of equality, that everyone has the opportunity to benefit from Android OS, but developers and OEM partners don’t seem to agree.  Some OEM partners get updates earlier than others, and with Google in hot pursuit of Motorola Mobility, other partners fear they might end up on the sidelines.

And not all app developers are pleased with Google’s revenue-sharing model.  There’s SkyHook, which claims that Google blocked their deal with Motorola, and YouMail, which complained that their app was pulled from the Android Market just because T-Mobile made a fuss.  The YouMobile app did had some flaws as it hurt the T-Mobile network, but their point is they should’ve have been informed so they could’ve done something to fix the app.

GetJar CEO Iljas Laurs is calling on Android app developers to support independent app stores, and he sees that more will follow in Amazon’s footsteps, leveraging Android’s platform for their own siloed ecosystem.

Developers as well as OEMs are looking into using Microsoft Windows Phone platform with Samsung and HTC leading the pack.  Though these two are known to be Android-philic, it won’t hurt to look into other opportunities.

But still, others think that Android has cemented its place in the tech world as the premier open platform, doubtful that Windows Phone or other competing platforms will reach Android’s level of success.  webOS, while available for integration with HP products and others’ devices, will still need a large-scale ecosystem to provide the benefits of a comprehensive mobile platform.  Windows Phone has a good amount of potential here, as it could become more integrated with other Microsoft products like Xbox.