HP, the owner of handset manufacturer Palm, has announced the most significant update to the webOS platform since its launch in 2009 – webOS 2.0. The latest version of the operating system will debut on the Palm Pre 2 smartphone, which will launch this week.

In terms of new features, webOS 2.0 will support: true multitasking; Just Type – which allows a user to start typing direct from the home screen – an email, SMS or whatever – while the OS decides which is the best app to use; device syncing with Facebook, Google, Microsoft Exchange, LinkedIn and Yahoo; Adobe Flash Player 10.1 Beta; favourite contacts; Skype Mobile (on Verizon Wireless only); Quickoffice Connect Mobile Suite; increased support for HTML5; VPN; a redesigned App Catalog; and a redesigned app launcher.

The Palm Pre 2 smartphone will be available from Friday October 22, 2010 in France from SFR and is scheduled to be available in the coming month in the US from Verizon Wireless and in Canada.

A webOS 2.0 update will be delivered to existing Palm customers “in the coming months”.

The mobile OS space is becoming increasingly competititve. Rival operation the Symbian Foundation issued a cursory statement late on Tuesday announcing the immediate departure of executive director Lee Williams for personal reasons, fuelling speculation about the future of the organisation.