Comments on: Palm, Sprint provide few new details on the Pre

Webcast designed to showcase the Pre offers virtually no new information on Palm's forthcoming smartphone, especially when regarding its price and launch date.

[CDubber]

Haven't all the naysayers who talked smack about the iPhone lived to regret it? Mess with El Jobso at your peril.

I expect Apple to bring the hammer down on Palm with iPhone v. 3.0.

[miles4444]

It doesn't matter because iPhone v3.0 isnt going to install a keybd, replacement battery, better camera, multitasking, etc...

They are alot of people out there who dont want an iPhone and are waiting for something better.

[CDubber]

"It doesn't matter because iPhone v3.0 isnt going to install a keybd, replacement battery, better camera, multitasking, etc..."

Um, and you know this *how* exactly? No, there won't be a physical keyboard (probably), nor a user-replaceable battery (definitely), but I'm sure the new iPhone model will have a better camera, probably multitasking, etc.

[nauticao3]

I think you're confused CDubber. Unless Apple has found some incredible way to make hardware changes via software this IPhone 3..0 SOFTWARE will not add a physical keyboard, new camera, battery, etc.

[piusg]

I'll gladly talk smack about the iPhone. The iPhone is on AT&T and exclusive to AT&T. Had Verizon released the device, I'd probably have one now--but I absolutely positively cannot stand AT&T; my experiences with them (I had used them in the past for a couple years while they were Cingular) have been absolutely miserable. And I'm in a major metro besides.

Nor can I stand Apple's ham-fisted management of the platform and Gestapo-like treatment of the developer community.

I will never own an iPhone as long it is a TDMA/GSM/GRPS device. Never.

I had even defected form Palm over to BlackBerry after being a loyal Palm user for years--and watched each successive Treo, from the 600, to the 650, to the 700p, grow exponentially worse than the last. Palm too has got a loooooooooong way to go to win back my trust and confidence.

[miles4444]

I agree that this was basically a Palm\Sprint lovefest. But at least they provided some news regarding what plans the Pre will be on.

[jusben1369]

Having moved from a blackberry to an iPhone and back to a Blackberry and then back to an iPhone (work) I can tell you that what hooks me in on the iPhone is the third party apps.

So I wonder if the war won't be the OS's and devices but rather the apps in the long run. And wow tying it to a single phone company was goofy for Apple but kind of made sense (consumer experience control freaks) but why the heck would Palm do it?

[miles4444]

As far as we can tell Sprint is exclusive only until the end of 2009. So its possible we will see it on other US carriers next year.

[atish505]

This is a CDMA Phone. And Sprint's CDMA devices are not even compatible with Verizon.
CDMA is dead (<10% market share, with most users in 4 countries: USA, India, japan, Korea). The world is using GSM.

[piusg]

@atish505: Where are you getting your facts, dude? J.D. Power & Associates' 2008 semi-annual report on wireless carrier quality put Verizon, Alltel, and Sprint firmly at the top--CDMA/EV-DO carriers all.

http://www.jdpower.com/corporate/news/releases/pressrelease.aspx?ID=2008142

No mention of T-Mo or AT&T. Not a one.

[makaveli17042]

I swear to God. If I cannot use the Palm Pre on the Sprint Sero Plan. I am leaving Sprint. I have stuck with them far too long for them to pull some dumb stunt like this on me. Infact, if that does happen. I am going to get the G2 phone. Seriously!

[UNCHANO]

PLEASE!!!

Stop crying!!! You are still better off with sprint in any plan for the Pre, than moving to T-mobile and pay a lot more for a G2 plan.

People like you don't have any brains? Just check the prices, you will see what I mean!

[Talib]

Palm is shooting itself in the foot a bit by going after 'light" apps in the near-term. Apps on the iPhone didn't become mega successful until the SDK was released. The other major carriers are headed in the direction of creating their own app stores right now. I'd think Palm would want a piece of that action - not to mention that many developers would start building apps at the very minute an SDK was released. Doing that in the near term could allow Palm to hit the ground running with the Pre. This is Palm's last piece of ammo. I hope they know what they're doing with it.

[Get_a_life_Leo]

Too much noise, not enough data. Non-events like this give the impression Palm has nothing new to say but are worried they'll lose the buzz they achieved in January. Better to stay quiet, under-hype and over-deliver than to try to keep the limelight. Phones are not major investments. If they do well, people will buy them over time. But if they disappoint initially, it'll all be over for Pre and for Palm.

There is a good living to be made in this space but it will take time (as subscribers are locked in). It was a major tactical error to directly target the iPhone though (like Zune vs iPod). It's not as though Apple has been asleep. I hope the Pre lives up to the promise but many a good tech product has died due to poor management.

[remyallis]

Palm strategists did an excellent job beginning the hype, but their messaging momentum is failing for a number of a reasons:

1. Positioning against iPhone will come down to a feature by feature PR war, creating a commodity out of the product.
2. Their minor information leaks leave consumers disappointed, an emotion that should be guarded against at all costs.
3. Too much carrier-love - consumer are willing to switch carriers if the technology is better. Technology leads, not the network - a flawed messaging strategy.

http://blog.allisinc.com

[professionaladventurer]

Remember how great the ZUNE was going to be with WiFi and everyone who hated Apple and the iPod thought Apple was dead at the hands of M$ ad it's new ZUNE? Then the touch iPod came out and hammered every single nail in the coffin of the new "iPod killer", the ZUNE!

This will be pretty much the same thing. Good bye and good night Palm.

[CDubber]

What's a Zune? :)

[peterperil]

I talked to a Sprint rep on 3/10 and she said more news would be on the Sprint Web site 3/15 and the Pre would be in the stores 3/19. The price with a two year contract will be $299. Whether this means anything or not who knows. I'm still trying to figure out whether I should go with the Pre or the Sprint/Blackberry Niagara when it comes out.

[green2u]

Hmmmm it's 3/15 and nothing new on their Web site re: Palm Pre. Another broken promise by Sprint!

[AndrewRich]

If only it wasn't a Palm device. Can anyone convince me that this is a new and better Palm Inc, not the one that let PalmOS fester for ages and produced designed-to-break devices like the Treo 650?

[BigPreFan]

Apple can come up with ten more software revisions but until they come up with a hardware slider keyboard they are the past and not the Pre. Not to mention a removeable battery and a truckload of other things.

[jjg-713]

These fanboys are getting out of hand.
@anilsudh
Why don't you get a brick and hit your iphone with it. Better yet, grab your iphone and hit your head with it

[grelaz]

I used to love palm and then moved to blackberry's of which had had many. Once moving to the Iphone 3G (1st gen wasn't avail in Australia) I have never looked back. Yes the Iphone is not perfect but it leaves all the other devices I have used for dead.

The new Pre looks to me at least, like cheap plastic Taiwanese junk that comes from an HTC factory.
Replaceable batteries?? - I never took the battery out of the Plams, Clies, Nokia's or Blackberry's unless I had to access the SIM card.

Camera - I have a dedicated camera, who needs a noisy tiny sensor? (amazingly all comments about wanting a built in camera because they don't want to lug around a dedicated camera are happy to lug around another replaceable battery )

Keyboard - no-one complained when we had to use the number pad on mobile phones to write an sms. I can type faster with the Iphone than i ever could with my blackberry. I am not typing War and PEace or large word docs just emails, web and sms's. The built in virtual keyboard is perfect for those types of uses. If you need to write more get a notebook!

Palm (as much as I loved them) will fail miserably with this device, because the world doesn't want or need built in keyboards, replaceable batteries or 5 megapixel camera's. If you are not happy maybe we can then add the ability to play cassettes! we can then bring on the early 90's!

Palm is bringing the same junk that eventually led to their demise

Time to move on!!

[doobz94]

I agree with a lot of that, but the replaceable battery thing isn't because people want to carry multiple batteries around. It's for when the current battery is dead and needs you be replaced after a year of use. Apple makes you send it to them for replacements.

But I do agree with the keyboard thing, though not everyone can type with the iPhone's keyboard. But to add to that, everyone may love the Pre's physical keyboard as an idea, but why don't the actually try it out? It may not be out yet, but it's the same exact size and kind of keyboard used on the Centro and Palm Pro. It's useless.

I especially agree with the camera thing. People are always wanting more megapixels on their camera phones because they think that's what makes picture quality better. It annoys me because most of those pixels are wasted when you view the picture anyways because your phone's screen and your tv probably don't have 2 million+ pixels. It's the lense that makes the difference and what they should care about. Don't brag that the Pre's camera has 3 megapixels when the iPhone only has 2 because when you look at picture quality you'll see that a lot of the time the iPhone's camera is better than some other 3 megapixel cameras on smart phones, like the Touch Diamond.

[mamurphy353]

I completely agree, you summed it up perfectly.
I love Palm and still have a Palm m515, but am waiting for the new iPhone and will switch from Sprint.
Now if only I could sync all my iphone data to a desktop application (like the Palm Desktop) other than MS Outlook.

[IcyFOX2009]

TAIWANESE JUNK ?!!? Are you KIDDING me ?!! Do you even know iPhone is MADE IN TAIWAN ?? YES, TAIWANESE made them for Apple. Is your beloved iPhone is junk too ?? The next time you want to insult Taiwan, you better smash all your computers and cell phones first, you know what , they are all MADE IN TAIWAN .

[grelaz]

Of course I know the majority of IT components and phones are made in either Taiwan or China, but whereas the Iphone has a quality look and feel to it the PRE looks cheap, it looks flimsy and it looks like an HTC type device designed to do everything at the lowest cost without doing anything well.

Perhaps maybe I should rephrase may statement, it may be made or assembled in Taiwan/China but it has been designed in the US or like Sony who design in Japan to have a quality sturdy and solid feel. Just by looking at it I know it is going to be cheap plastics, too light and prone to scratches. SO YES IT IS JUNK!

I don't care how you convince me otherwise since nothing out of Taiwan has ever had the slightest bit of quality to it, it has always been shove the most features into a product for the lowest common dollar denominator. Now I am fine with that, but I would rather have a decent product out of Singapore or Japan or even Taiwan that is well built than a do EVERYTHING.

[atish505]

Replaceable battery is indispensable. The iPhine battery will start fading out in a year. People should have th eoption to replace batteries.
The iPhone lacks basic features like MMS, Video Recording, ability to attach external key boards via Bluetooth etc.
It is a phone for consumers that will never make it to business.

IPhone is a non starter and has failed miserably in India, China and other countries (world's largest mobile markets).
I have used many products including Acer laptops made in Taiwan. They are high quality.

Anything American I have bought (those RCA players, GE Cordless phones, Motorola mobiles, Windows Vista, or Grand Cherokee) have turned out be duds. I am of the opinion that America makes lousy quality products that have tendency to break down.

[abcd9009]

Regardless of how good Pre happens to me, running on Sprint network means running on outdated CDMA network as compared to the iPhone which works in GSM - the network used WORLDWIDE, not just in US.
This is the reason why Storm, even though it's exclusive to VZ - it has GSM capability in order to run outside US. Can't do it with Pre (at least not from the current details disclosed).

[oversight68]

Um, who cares? The vast majority of people don't roam internationally, thus it doesn't really matter whether the phone uses GSM or CDMA in the US. If someone NEEDS international roaming capability, then they can choose a handset that will do so (both VZW and Sprint have international capable devices). If Sprint decides they want an international capable Pre (or any phone for that matter) they will contract with whichever company...Palm, HTC, Samsung, etc. to build it.

I would rather have a carrier who can keep their data network up and running (Sprint and Verizon), as opposed to one that is almost contstantly dealing with some level of outage (ATT), or virtually non-existent 3G coverage (TMO).

I also find it funny all the people who are crucifying the Pre without even touching the device, when it's not even on the market yet, and will not be for another couple of months, and likely not going to be for several months. Having many nighmares stemming from the Treo 600/650 days, I do have reservations about the Pre, but am not going to pass judgement on it until I can actually get some hands on time wit hthe device. It will fall between that, the Diamond 2, or possibly the Touch Pro 2.

[cardfan1212]

AT&T is crap. It's the reason i won't be staying with an iphone. The Pre on Sprint will be much faster. No more dropped calls on my iphone and getting raped by at&t's plans.

No matter what apple comes up with in its 3.0 OS, it won't come near to competing with the Pre. There's maybe less than 10 apps worth having with the iphone..the rest are junk. The Pre will have much more than that at launch...useful apps..

Finally the iphone will not have multitasking, not have the Pre's notifications, synergy, or universal search, will have slower hardware, no kb, and is dependent on itunes bloatware.

Sounds like a nobrainer to pick the Pre. The iphone continues to be a kiddie phone for beginners with a simple UI. If you're an iphone user that wants more in a smartphone, you upgrade to a Pre...and get a faster, better quality network that's much cheaper to boot.

[doobz94]

Wow. You can read the future?

[carlitos92]

Synergy? You mean, like ch'i? Give me a break.

I have used, Sprint, TMobile, Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint's coverage is the worst out of all them.

AT&T is far from perfect, but the iPhone plan I moved to was cheaper than the comparable VZW unlimited data plan. AND it had visual voicemail, which is not a must-have, but pretty ingenious once you use it.

A simple UI serves me well when I am travelling, trying to do 10 other things at once in an airport. Why make it complicated? The myth that devices have to be ugly, convoluted, or esoteric to be "serious" or business-oriented needs to stop. The market has spoken, and more people value convenience and simplicity that a stab at an end-all, be-all laptop in a pocket.

I'm sorry you don't like your slow, kiddie iPhone - but I CAN see the future: The Pre will have its little faction of elitist supporters... and they will be scrambling for the next fringe device in 18 months, as Palm and the Pre die a slow, quiet death. Goodbye.

[grelaz]

You are in for a surprise!!

The Iphone has brought proper multimedia to a smart phone and the ability to finally utilise the web. Who used to browse the internet with their phone or even listen to music before the iphone? I had a sony-ericson and other devices liek blackberry's and nokia's. All had multimedia capabilities - I used NONE of it....Too hard to use on the phone! too hard to get stuff on and off the phone and too hard to use the internet

GET REAL!

The Pre will fail and fail miserably, and while no apple fanboy it is the features that phone users like yourselves ask to have every conceivable tick in the box that makes most gadgets TOO COMPLICATED and TOO HARD to ever use properly!

I'd rather have a kiddies phone that does everything right than a gownup's piece of junk that does everything wrong!

[REunson]

While we are on the subject of the Palm Pre's replaceable battery. How long will a charge last anyway?
I did a quick Google search and haven't been able to find any solid information about it.

ars technica has a good article about it.
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news/2009/01/the-palm-pres-possible-achilles-heel-battery-life.ars

Palm are busy extolling the virtues of a replaceable battery. How about telling us how long it's going to last?
They seem to be keeping that little detail close to their chest.
They know that any bad press about the Pre is going to make their stock price tank.

[chihawk]

Did they say that you have to have the Everything plan for the pre? Or was that just one they mentioned? This wasn't clear to me. I really hope they won't force every pre owner to upgrade to a $99/mth plan to be able to use it...that's really going to put a limit on their sales.

[Waam]

I think the iPhone definitely needs a solid competitor to step up, but I can't shake the feeling that Palm as a company loves to shoot itself in the foot. It has done so over and over again and I juct can't bring myself to trust them.

[anilsudh]

What does Greenpeace have to say about Palm Pre? If it is not 100% recyclable then it's piece of garbage and an additional 100% tax needs to levied on it for polluting the environment.

[atish505]

Marriage of convenience for two loosers: SPRINT weds PALM.
PALM and Windows Mobile are dead.

[kingoftowns]

future versions will be more robust????????? havent they been working on this phone for over 3 years??? it is looking more and more like after 8 years i will be leaving sprint in september and moving to either the G2 or an iPhone.

and honestly so many people have the iphone and love its apps that they are not going to switch unless the pre is worlds better than the iphone, it cant be just as good or a little better or it will fail compared to the iphone.

[cardfan1212]

LOL The Pre is worlds better. Get a clue..

[random truth]

LOL The Pre is still vapor. Get a clue....

[b_baggins]

How much you wanna bet that the Pre's delays have to do with the fact that their lawyers realized their rip off of Apple's multi-touch will get them sued into bankruptcy if they release the device and they are in frantic negotiations with Apple right now to try and find some sort of licensing deal.

[oversight68]

Or, Apple's saber rattling could be a sign they are a bit nervous about the potential of the Pre, should the device truly deliver. A fast, flexible, powerful, useful, and OPEN device that isn't forever wrapped up in iTunes and Apple's expensive penchant for all that is proprietary, all while being raped by ATT for data charges.