Think you'll have to wait until
June 6th for all the
Pre surprises to emerge? Think again. A breaking
Reuters report has just dropped one of the biggest cellular bombshells of the year:
Verizon Wireless, America's largest mobile operator, will soon be carrying Palm's Pre. Oh, that's not enough? No worries -- it'll also be selling a "new version of the touchscreen BlackBerry Storm," which is obviously the
Storm 2 that we've been toying around with. The report makes clear that both phones would be cleared for shipment in around six months, which certainly jibes with whispers we've heard about Sprint's
mighty short exclusivity period. The news came from the company's Lowell McAdam, the top executive for the venture of Verizon Communications and Vodafone. To quote: "
Over the next six months or so you will see devices like Palm Pre and a second generation Storm." First Sprint, then
AT&T, and now Verizon? T-Mobile, where you at?
[Thanks, E]
Update: Seems Mr. McAdam continued on by noting that VZW would get the Palm Pre "
and a cousin." Hmm,
Eos, anyone?
posted May 28th 2009 12:18PM
FIRST!!!!!!
I want the Storm 2 NOW!!!
Wow. Huge.
By then all the kinks should be worked out (for the most part anyway) and the Pre will dominate the smartphone market. This is amazing for Palm, they are really going all out and this will give them an amazing upper hand over Apple. Hats off to you, Palm.
you really dont get it do you...do you really think thats going to happen? as soon as iphone 3.0 hits, the palm pre will be forgotten, and palm will once again be wondering...what are we going to do? die already palm...die. dominate the smartphone market...right. they'll be lucky if they have the "upper hand" over Samsung.
jeez...if a Omnia HD follows that, I'm just gonna open 5 lines for each device...then i'm gonna give VZW vaseline so they don't give it to me too hard every month
This Sucks for Sprint. :(
Seriously. Sprint canNOT be happy hearing these announcements (or rumors, at least) from AT&T and Verizon about the Pre *before* Sprint has even launched the device.
That said, I maintain that the Pre loses a *little* bit of its awe when not paired with the Simply Everything plan.
Who wants to bet that AT&T and Verizon planned their announcements together?
Sprint is done.
if this turns out to be true, i could certainly see Sprint taking some action against Verizon and AT&T because of it. i'm sure those two know how long Sprint's exclusivity period is and the fact that they are announcing/saying stuff like this could seriously effect Sprint's sales. argue that the statement doesn't actually say VZW is getting the Pre if you want, but the prospect has actually put pause to my plans to jump ship. i mean, i wasn't going to get the Pre as soon as it came out anyway, it would probably be a month or two before i actually picked it up, and the prospect of it coming to Verizon means i wouldn't have to go through the hassle of switching carriers with the ETF's and such.
it would all depend on how they do it. if they tamper with it at all, i'm gone, and the Simply Everything plan may get me to go anyway since all that stuff on a Verizon plan would cost like $50 more a month. so yea, if Verizon introduces a new plan for it and doesn't tamper with it, they have at least one customer that would stick around for a while longer.
WOHOO.
Finally a phone for Verizon I can be happy with.
Just hope this thing lives up to the hype.
"Sprint shares were down 18 cents at $4.89 in late morning trade on the New York Stock Exchange while Palm shares were up $1.15 at $11.68 on Nasdaq."
Nice. Unlike Apple, I'm sure Palm can easily create customized devices to work with all NA 3G bands whether it be 850, 1700 or 1900 MHz. I hate lifetime or 5 year exclusive agreements with one carrier.
Yes, I'd like to use one with T-Mobile's USA 3G network and UMA service.
Funny how I was talking to my husband about switching services to Sprint because of the Pre's exclusivity...and BAM! This comes out. Thank you, Verizon!
This good for Palm, Verizon and AT&T. Sad day for Sprint. How long before Sprint is under or bought out. I really feel sorry for Sprint. The casket is slowly closing, the nails are slowly being hammered in the coffin.
Every breathe is being knocked out from Sprint. I can only hope the FCC allows an overseas carrier to buy 100% of Sprint.
I really want to see what the you all would be getting from the other carriers, as far as data plan pricing on att and crippling done by vzw
At least I'll be able to take my AT&T Palm Pre phone overseas. If Apple doesn't wow with me a new iphone on June 8th, come Decembe the Palm Pre is going to be my first touch phone.
Truly a sad day for Sprint indeed, how is the only exclusive phone Sprint plans to put out not even exclusive anymore and its not even out yet ?!?!?!?! Is sprint really going to be bought out? Maybe in the process I would be able to cancel my contracts without paying a termination fee and head to Verizon because I really want the Storm 2 and they will be carrying the Palm Pre just in case.... :(
Hooray! Just in time for my new-every-two-years!
Ok, to clarify: Palm has NOT announced they are bringing the Pre to AT&T or Verizon. In fact, AT&T and Verizon haven't announced they are getting the Pre. They have simply made wide-sweeping claims that "someday" they will have it on their network, so why switch to Sprint for it?
What both companies are really trying to do is curb interest in Sprint and the Pre while they release the Storm 2 and iPhone 3.0. Then, perhaps one or both companies get the Pre in 6 months or a year. Maybe.
Btw, these rumors are NOT good news for Palm. Palm needs the Pre to sell well right now, on Sprint... not maybe, possibly, sorta in 6 months. I'm sure Palm will be happy to bring the Pre and WebOs to multiple networks when the chance arrives, but telling people to wait for it is not a good thing for the health of Palm as a company.
Honestly, Sprint should make a statement that once the Storm 2 and new iPhone's exclusivity agreements run out, they expect they will become available on the Sprint network. Does this mean they will? No. But it sure sounds good when you are trying to keep your customers from defecting.
Did you not read the article where Lowel McAdam quotes: "Over the next six months or so you will see devices like Palm Pre and a second generation Storm."
Nicely put!! doesnt anyone read at all??? "Over the next six months or so you will see devices like Palm Pre and a second generation Storm"
devices LIKE Palm Pre!!! Wow... Can anyone provide info as to when the deal Palm has with Sprint ends?? Funny how neither Sprint or Palm themselves gave info on this, yet VZN and AT&T know more?!?! That is amazing!!! People believe everything they hear and read about.. like zombies or sheep... LOL... its actually humorous!!!
g-me, did YOU read what I wrote? Yes, McAdam (who works for Verizon) said in the next six months you will see devices "like" the Pre. That isn't an announcement that the Pre is actually going to be coming to Verizon. That is a very carefully worded piece of marketing, to make it SOUND LIKE the Pre is coming to Verizon. And he only said it to prevent current Verizon customers from leaving for Sprint. The Pre may end up on Verizon at some point, but if you believe that statement was a official announcement, try sending Palm an e-mail and see if they want to confirm. I can guarantee you, they will have no comment. Both AT&T and Verizon see the hype that is building toward the Pre's release next week, and they are not happy. So, if they can't beat the Pre with their current offerings, they will tell potential customers "just wait a few months and we will have the Pre too...maybe..."
It's very likely the Pre has a very short exclusivity period.. There is no way Palm would lock their savior device into the sinking Sprint ship.
Wow! Im glad this is happening! This is going to be a SICK phone for verizon. Hey, maybe, since my dads friend works there i can get it a little earlier.
OMG!!!! this just keeps getting funnier and funnier.... where does it say they're getting the PRE?!!?!? NOWHERE!!!! Read!!!
Here's to hoping for a T-Mobile announcement any time now
I wouldn't get your hopes up. T-Mobile is riding the Android wave hard... that's their bread and butter. There's no telling the costs involved with getting the Pre on their network but if everybody else is getting it then why even bother following the heard when you can make some truly unique phones?
Not saying it won't happen, I'm just saying to not get your hopes up.
Hi to all,
I'm leaving in Switzerland and I wonder if the PRE will be compatible here. Because a free retail wil be avaible at Sprint, isn't it? And i wan't to know if a can buy ne free version from sprint and use it here?
Thx
'Like the Palm Pre' means WebOS.
Hmmm coming from somebody who is an avid Android user and has no interest in either Verizon, the Pre, or Sprint I can say that the comment was dubious at best. TO be honest I just don't understand why he'd say "devices LIKE Palm Pre" as opposed to "we're gonna have the Palm Pre in 6 months."
If anything I'd say that this means Verizon is planning on getting a differently labeled WebOS phone in 6 months... maybe the Eos?
It's interesting that he mentioned "LIKE" Palm Pre. if it's the EOS, then that's a big laugh to all those who wanted the Pre. You wanted 6 months or so to get the Pre on VZW or AT&T and they deliver the EOS???? haha
It's Palm Centro!!! LOL!!! too funny!!
Lowell McAdam must not have read this:
http://www.nasdaq.com//aspxcontent/newsstory.aspx?symbol=S&selected=S&textpath=20090528\ACQDJON200905281515DOWJONESDJONLINE000871.htm&cdtime=05/28/2009+3:15PM
It's funny because VZW never acknowledged phones coming to their service until they were there. Now these guys are slanging mud, and telling the public that certain phones are going to be available...
This is bad for sprint. They are spending all the money advertising it getting the awareness out and talking all this crap about shortages. Ok be short at the beggining and people that wait will scoop it up on the other carriers People are going to see how a couple sprint customers like it the first couple months then wait and get it on attt or vzw.
I second your comments verbatim. This news, even if not true will give VZN customers a great reason to wait to see how this all shakes out. I was on the fence about getting a Pre after it is out a week or two (to hear early feedback) but if it's gonna come to VZN, I'd be an idiot to switch. Been with VZN since 2001 and get a cheaper "loyalty" price plan, and best of all I KNOW that they have tremendous coverage wherever I go on vacation, as well as my home area (Bay Area).
Poor Sprint. Great for Pre, as now many more potential customers will be salivating at the chance to get this novel phone!
It's a great day to be a consumer! Well...almost, we have a few more months of waiting if on VZN or AT&T. :)
If true, I'm STOKED!! I love VZN's coverage and I NEVER get dropped or missed calls. Not since I dumped my older phones such as the Star Tac and Kyocera. My LG phone has NEVER dropped a phone call and I use my phone every day. I really hope the report is accurate that the Pre comes to VZN! The only 2 phones I have any immediate interest in is the Pre and the Storm 2, IF the OS is fixed. I had a Storm and returned it in a week due to constant reboots and other major issues. Love the click screen--easier to type on than my Touch (IMO the Touch/iPhone need some sort of feedback or a few millisecond delay built into the keyboard to prevent so many unwanted key presses. same thing when in Safari on the Touch. when trying to scroll, i constantly end up going to another link by accident.
Ok... so I work for AT&T, but used to sell sprint/att phones for about a year... I have a sprint phone and have never had coverage issues. I have had easily under 10 dropped calls in 3 years and if there is NO SPRINT COVERAGE I CAN ROAM ON VERIZONS network FOR FREE... that includes texting and data up to 300 MBs ... anyways im in the DFW, TX area and i have so many people always complaining about dropped calls with AT&T... and although their prices have come down a bit they will never compare to sprints prices or 3g network.
I got an iphone for about a week and it did drop a few calls *over 5*... 3g coverage sucked and IT ALWAYS wants to connect to WIFI so that it doesn't use up AT&Ts weak 3g network... I went to an AT&T store and had 2 bars and was on EDGE while ugly old free phones had full signal and were on 3g... and by the way it wasn't my phone cause my room mate HAD an iphone too... so yeah i like the Sprint/FREE VZW coverage
So im gonna give Palm Pre a try
Won't you get charged a fee if your roam more than 50% of the time?
here you go doubters
Verizon Wireless will get the Palm Pre "and a cousin," the BlackBerry Storm 2, the BlackBerry Tour, and Google Android phones over the next six months, Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam said Thursday at the Barclays Capital Worldwide Wireless and Wireline conference.
"It's always been our strategy to offer customers a wide variety of choices and we're excited about the device pipeline," McAdam said.
Combination CDMA/GSM phones may also be in the pipeline, as McAdam said that Verizon Wireless and Vodafone were working together on joint products. Vodafone, a global GSM carrier, owns part of Verizon Wireless.
"We have a number of products on the roadmap going forward that will be joint procurements with Vodafone," he said.
McAdam expanded on some of the device announcements. The BlackBerry Tour is "an up-scale of any of the QWERTY devices" from Research in Motion. As for Android, "we've had some very good dialogs with Google, we like what we see and we will in fact be bringing Android devices to the marketplace in the near future." Motorola will also re-enter Verizon's smartphone portfolio soon.
@Dave
No, it says on any recent sprint plan free roaming nation wide... NOW if you are roaming all the time, then sprint isn't for you and they will cancel your contract because you are not in a coverage area... but all they will do at first is give you a warning so yeah... i mean not every company works everywhere so if vzw or att works better in an area sprint doesn't work then go ahead and switch im just saying sprint has good plans and i've traveled so many times and am roaming a few times during LONG trips, but i dont worry about it cause im covered either way...
The deal is not finalized and personally how is it exactly legal to say you want to carry something when the exclusive deal is not even up? I read that according to Jim Gerace that the Pre "Will go on sale early next year". Again, I am no legal analyst but for a device not to end it's exclusive deal, how can you negociate and start production (This goes to both AT&T & VZW) when it's still under contract?
Sorry but all this looks shady to me. I am not saying it should not go to AT&T or VZW but shouldn't it wait until the deal ends? Then start talks and production? And what if the phone sells like crazy and Sprint wants to extend the exclusive deal? Can they? And does that mean VZW & AT&T have to wait even longer for the Pre?
If the new iphone doesn't wow me then I'm definitely getting the Palm Pre on AT&T in December as my first touch phone. No way I'm switching to Sprint and not be able to take my phone overseas.