HTC is one of the obvious buyers, but they are so in bed with Google and Android, I wonder if HTC could pull the trigger on that one. On one hand, HTC is trying to position itself as a top tier manufacturer, independent of carrier branding. On the other, it has Android and WinMo handsets already... is it going to try to add WebOS to the mix?

I doubt it. If HTC goes for Palm, it will be a patent play.

However, what if Google bought Palm for WebOS interface? I've always seen Android's interface as a little clunky. And Palm has some great design people... so if you married Android and Palm, then you'd have a better chance of unseating the iPhone. If it was just HTC, then I fear you'd just get a jumbled mess of handsets.