Apple Insider reports that Samsung is rumored to be interested in buying webOS from Hewlett-Packard.

"The sources noted that the acquisition of HP's PC business, which has a rather low gross margin, may turn out to hurt Samsung's panel and DRAM businesses that have rather high gross margins, therefore HP's webOS may be the target that Samsung ahs the most interest in," the report said.

The potential move is seen as a way to counter Apple's marriage of software and hardware, found in both iOS devices like the iPhone, as well as the company's Mac lineup powered by OS X. But a purchase of webOS is also viewed as a way for Samsung to push back against Google.

  Samsung rumored to buy webOS to compete with Apple's iOS, Mac OS X