HP Pre 3 Final Bits: HP Appears To Be Done Updating webOS & An FCC Teardown Shows Verizon Branding

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Given the recent history of HP and webOS we were not expecting to see much more in terms news regarding smartphones. Notably, the HP Pre 3 which never really saw the light of day in terms of being available for sale.

Sure, the handset may have technically been available for a day in Europe, it was essentially killed off before it was announced. And that being said, in some respect that is probably better than what HP did with the TouchPad. But that seems to be a story for another today.

Anyway, some tidbits and maybe more accurately, some final tidbits in terms of the Pre 3. To begin with, as you can see from the above image and the gallery below, the handset has been torn apart. The images come courtesy of the FCC where, well, it was torn apart for us to look at. The handset is not going to magically come available, but for those of you who like to look at the innards of a device — have at it.

In short, the FCC images are offering a nice look at what will never come. And by that we are referring to the fact that the handset is clearly sporting Verizon branding. Of course, given the history that Verizon had with the Pre Plus and having to result to giving away free Mobile Hotspot just to make sales, they may not be all that upset that HP EOL’d the Pre 3 before it was released.

In addition, there has also been some chatter on the HP/Palm webOS developer forums that suggests the handset has already received a final update. The details come by way of Developer Relations team member Ben Combee who states;

“No, there are no plans that I know of to do any more OS updates on the Pre3.”

Of course, just to give those who are holding out hope something to wish for, he did go on to clarify that his “comment about no updates IS NOT an official statement. I may very well be wrong, as I’m not directly involved with the planning of releases to devices.”

Bottom line, the HP Pre 3 may be stopping with webOS 2.2.3.