In its bid to grab a share of the estimated $160 billion connected device market, Hewlett-Packard unveiled a tablet computer and two smart phones based on webOS software. The industry has been anticipating the launch since HP got a hold of webOS technology through the purchase of Palm last year.

The new HP tablet that shows off a 10-inch-screen "TouchPad" as well as the new Palm based phones are expected to give some good competition to its Apple iOS and Google’s (News - Alert) Android rivals. 

The new HP products were unveiled by HP Executive Vice President Todd Bradley in a press conference at Fort Mason Center. At the event, he further revealed the company’s plan about starting to use webOS for at least some PC models later this year.

However, at the same time, the HP VP made it clear that HP will stick to its long standing relationship with Microsoft (News - Alert). The webOS computers will be prestigious addition to the company’s product portfolio, as HP will produce these new OS based computers only in addition to its current suits of Windows PCs.

“This is just enhancing our portfolio,” Bradley said regarding HP’s future plan.

In a two-hour presentation, HP demonstrated two new Palm smart phones. The credit-card-size model called the Veer has been designed for consumer use and a larger model called the Pre3, with a 3.6-inch screen has been designed for professionals, the company executives explained at the event.

The latter, however, incorporates some consumer features, the officials pointed out. Veer comes with a 2.57-inch glass display no thicker than a deck of cards, the company officials claimed.

In the presentation, HP executives stressed the user friendliness of the new webOS. They drew the viewers’ attention to the ease with webOS based devices performing multiple functions at once. Interestingly, the software also makes it easy to switch "seamlessly" from one device to another and sharing information between a phone and tablet. It allows, for example, e-mailing photos from either device to a wireless printer.

“We start with unique and differentiated technology and apply it across a portfolio of devices,” Bradley explained.

So far as the TouchPad tablet is concerned, it comes with several features missing in iPad. For example, the TouchPad boasts of a front-facing camera for video calling and support for Adobe's Flash software, which is used to power much of the video and animation found on the Web.

The launch will be followed by an aggressive cross-media campaign that will cover Web and social media, as well as television commercials that will air during "Saturday Night Live" and the upcoming Grammy Awards, according to Page Murray, vice president for integrated marketing in HP's personal systems group.

Earlier this month, Hewlett-Packard (News - Alert) announced to build a multimillion-dollar data center in Sydney's west. The center, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2011, will create about 200 construction jobs.