Comments on: Sprint takes gloves off, aims for Apple's chin

It's on! In a new ad campaign, Sprint is pointing out not just that its plans are cheaper overall, but that its Palm Pre can do things Apple's first-gen iPhone can't.

[datamuncher]

Just came off contract for 1st gen iPhone along with my wife. We looked at Pre but bought 2 new iPhone GS's. Main decision factor was stickiness of iPhone apps, photo albums, music collection, videos, plus option for international phone usage.

[bvincent12]

Ha. Canada's the best. I love Rogers right now. Plus, our rates here are the same, if not better than ATT.

[protagonistic]

OK, since my voice and data plan is going to cost me about $1200 a year over the next two years and Sprint plans to save me up to $1200 a year I guess than means Sprint will give me two years of service free just for buying the Pre?

Looks like Sprint is just as guilty of using deceptive advertising as any of the other companies. It sure would be nice to see a company actually base their ads on some real information instead of best case scenarios.

[gregorykgolden]

We had Sprint for 5 years and what a nightmare that was. $1200 savings could never entice me to live through the Sprint experience again.

[atish505]

LOL ... SPrint and Palm (both on death bed and life support system) challenging iPhone .. Ha .. Ha.
Only an Insane person will believe this headline.

Pal Pre may delay but will not prevent the demise of Sprint and Palm Pre.

[lang0502]

The original iPhone's cheapest plan was $60 a month, the cheapest Palm Pre service plan is $70 a month. How does the Pre give you $1200 savings? Maybe if you from a family plan down to a single phone that everyone shares? That's logical.

[jabberwokkey]

The main problem I have with sprint is how long are they going to be in business? They have lost money several years in a row and have lost tons of subscribers. I'd worry about signing up with a company that could end up bankrupt (customer service, development of network). Palm is not in great shape either...

[seriouslynousernamesleft]

rotfl... Apple fanboys, Palm fanboys, Sprint fanboys, AT&T fanboys, and winblows fanboys all on one forum! Didn't even know that sprint/at&t fanboys existed...

[thoughtfulone]

slickuser is correct!
I had nothing but PAIN from Sprint! Living in Miami, I had to leave my house and walk up the street to keep my sprint signal! Drive up US1, dead zone, dropped call, for no reason! Rt 95 dropped calls all the time in certain areas! I gladly paid more to Verizon to get a dependable service.

[Daniel-Castaneda]

Oh YEah let me get rid of my Iphone and get a cheaply made plastic phone....from Sprint!

yeah right...Sprint sux and so does thE pre....iPHONE RULES...way better than the plastic feeling pre....made if they would have made it of a different plastic, maybe not cheap plastic. Even the iphone has a few things missing and lacking....apple alwys goes the extra step..to gve what it has the best.

[mluff]

It all boils down to personal preference and applications you use most.
Blackberry
Adroid G1/G2
Palm Pre
iPhone
Take your pick, they all serve a purpose. Some are boat anchors to some, and bars of gold to others. "Everything You Know is Wrong." It's just your personal opinion, which doesn't make you right.

They all have some B.A. Features, its just too bad you can't use any of them on any network without major complications.

You Gotta Love competition as it spurs inovation. Thats much better than using a 5lb Analog Brick Cell Phone.

[dablueman]

I don't care if they come out with a phone that prints money I still wouldn't go back to Sprint's network. Considering sprint phones don't even work across the street from sprint's headquarters in Overland Park, Kansas, I think it would be crazy for anyone to go back to that horrible service to get a inferior phone at a cheaper price. IT'S NOT WORTH THE COST SAVINGS!

[fearghail]

Sprint couldn't hit a bull in the butt with a scoop shovel, let alone hit Apple on the chin.

[ScottGibbons]

First of all, let me remind you that not all iPhone users are bigoted people...I use the iphone, and I like to think that I have a somewhat open mind and can consider other people's viewpoints.  And of course, the people who yell the loudest are usually the ones who get heard the most, even if their opinions do not represent the majority...
I implore you to keep an open mind also...have you tried the 3GS iPhone, running the 3.0 OS?  It truly is a new experience, the interface and functionality is really snappy, a very noticeable improvement over the previous OS speed.  It really gives the feel of working on a desktop computer.  The video shooting and new autofocus camera also work perfectly.  And of special interest to you, the new OS has enabled the keypad to switch to the horizontal orentation when you rotate the phone.  I am using that function right now, in this response.  This makes the on screen keyboard change from a width of 2" to a width of 3", and this may help you.  I hope this may encourage you to try the new phone.

[kyleryanm]

check it out stickam.com/freddyteddy

[BronxBoi]

So far in two different cities (Houston and New York), I can honestly say that Sprint is far better than AT&T. When it comes to data there is no comparison, Sprint owns it. As far as phones go the Iphone is alot slicker than the pre but I prefer the pre because of the keyboard. However, the keyboard on the pre is still not good enough that is why I am waiting for the Blackberry Tour. I currently own the curve on the Sprint network and can say I am very happy with the phone and the service. I am of the train of thought that devices need to be kept seperately. I want a phone to operate as a phone/smart device and if I want to play games I have an Itouch. Also on top of slow data service, AT&T's prices are just way too high it is just not worth it for the sake of being trendy.

[jdpugsle3]

Great article on an excellent cellphone!
It sounds like it is going to give Iphone a run for its money. I can remember when cellphones first came out they were big, clumsey, ugly things. I never could imagine that they could do things like email, video or social networking, or text messaging, or video gaming. It is amazing what you can do on these cellphones.

There isn't too many things you can't do on cellphones that you can do on your computer. Pretty soon you are going to be able to brush your teeth with them.


Jonathon Pugsley
www.marketingmergeonline.com

[dp07]

None of this matters because Palm will be dead in a few years anyway...and so will steve jobs. Then all the winblows fanboys can happily wallow in their windows mobile excrement.

[davidmcelroy_dotmac]

Anybody who thinks that this new Sprint ad hurts Apple or the iPhone in any serious way doesn't understand marketing or advertising (which aren't the same). If you have to read the copy in order to find the real point of the ad, the ad is a failure. Unless someone is already interested in a Pre (which doesn't include the general public, for the most part), a quick glance at that ad doesn't give any REASON to look at the copy. The concept of the ad is all wrong. The art direction and writing are fine; it's just that the IDEA behind it stinks. The ad concept doesn't SELL anything. It is just a graphic (used-up apple) that the ad agency thought was clever. The people who are the real target audience for this ad (which probably doesn't include anyone who cares enough to be reading this article) isn't going to care enough to get past a quick glance at the ad.

I happen to use and like the iPhone, but my opinion about this ad isn't based on whether the iPhone or Pre is better. It's just based on the fact that it's mindless, uninspired advertising that won't make a lick of difference. Reading any of the marketing work from Al Ries and Jack Trout would explain why it doesn't work, IMO.

[TextMailManiac]

Good Lord. Does anybody remember how fun the smartphone market was before the Apple Jihad decided to invade it with their tsunami of smugness?

The most telling thing about this is how damn insecure the Apple cultists are, all the time. When someone DARES to compete with them, they declare jihad against the infidels.

You used to buy a smartphone based on its capabilities, usefulness, work-life integration, and features. No longer -- now, we have to deal with millions of people who bought a smartphone based solely on how "cool and hip" it is as a fashion accessory, and who are constantly inventing justifications for that decision to cover up their own insecurity.

If Apple started selling dog poo as the "iPoo," the Apple Jihad would be declaring it the "ultimate fecal experience" and would be saying things like "the Pooper Scooper Company COPIED APPLE!" It's all so damn tedious.

[macrhino]

Whoa, what a RAGING case of iPhone envy, TextMailManiac.

I always wonder what motivates a person to pontificate on a subject about which they have no personal knowledge. Now I can see that "TextMailManiac" is motivated iPhone envy but that can't be the only motivation for such behavior.

"You used to buy a smartphone based on its capabilities, usefulness, work-life integration, and features." Who? Did you "One used to buy..."? One still does when one is open minded enough to consider all of the many attributes of the smartphone. That is why the iPhone has sold so well. That is why the Pre sold 100K units its first weekend and the iPhone 3GS sold 1 million.

Just buy a damn iPhone and the hostility will go away.

[swyve]

The fanboys are already downloading the iCrap app. :)

[TextMailManiac]

Yeah, I'm extremely envious of the iPhone. That's it. I really wanna be just like the Apple cultists but cannot admit it to myself. That must be it. :)