When is the Palm Pre being released?

That is the number question hitting my email box! I have wrote about the Pre, excited about the Pre, read everything I can find about the Pre, been on shows about the Pre and you know what? I don't know. Just last week I got an email from Sprint teasing us with information about the Pre, but no release date.

So I go to Google as I do almost daily trying to get any piece of information about release date. Recently Sprint CEO Dan Hesse sat down for an interview with RCR Wireless. Here's a part of his interview;

RCR: Speaking of handset selection, let's talk about the Palm Pre. How long will Sprint Nextel have exclusivity on the new device?

Hesse: We haven't commented on how long the exclusivity period lasts. Palm and Sprint have agreed that we won't comment on that.

RCR: Is there a scheduled release date?

Hesse: We haven't announced that. The plan of both companies is to have [Palm Pre] on the market in the first half of the year. Obviously when you're bringing out a new device with this level of sophistication and functionality there's a lot of work required.

The guys at Palm are working 24/7 and we're working 24/7 to bring it out as soon as we can, but we're not going to bring it out until we're really confident that the launch is going to be really successful in terms of how it operates. Of course to be able to produce the devices we want to make sure that there's enough. Clearly it's going to be a device that's going to be in high demand and it is going to be in shortage no matter when we launch it, but we don't want it to be too early where there's only a handful of Pres in the whole country.

We want to make sure that we can also have production ramped up at a reasonable level before we launch the product. There are a lot of variables that go into when we're going to launch it. But both Sprint and Palm are very focused on launching as soon as we can and our target is to launch in the first half. There are also no price details yet.

One thing I read is Palm is gearing up production for a "Few Million" units. Sprint and Palm are definitely working the pre (on pun intended) release hype. So if I find anything out I will be passing it on!

Dick Betts

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Mobile Technology Trainer

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Dick@DickBetts.com

Posted by Dick Betts on 04/21/2009 10:24 AM

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9 Comments on When is the Palm Pre being released?

APR

2009

Thanks Dick. We can always count on you to keep us up to date!

And do they expect to offer lots of APPS?

Hello again! Palm and Sprint are pretty smart about this. They probably have millions of people waiting with all of this hype. I did a google search and seems like everyone is talking about it even to the point of saying it will be released on May 15 because they have put a freeze on vacation times during May and June. Who knows? Right now though, I don't care. Since it is specific to Sprint only, Sprint does not have adequate coverage in my area therefore no need to get to excited until Palm can sell it through AT&T or Verizon (aka Alltel). I am excited about the phone but will probably be a year or so after it comes out before they allow another provider to sell them. Oh Well!? Maybe when I can get it, they will have all the bugs worked out of it and a more reasonable price on them, that is what happened to the iPhone. Good luck with the new Pre when you do get it though!

Joeann, Thanks for the kind words! Yes plenty of apps PLUS some of the old apps will port over to the Pre!

Larry, in the interview with Hesse he would not comment on how long Sprint would have the Pre before offered by other carriers. I know they have tested the Pre in Europe which will work on the AT&T network. Normally they have 90 days but are not allowed to release until 30 days before release. I expect the Pre to hit maybe 5 to 7 million by the time it crosses all carriers.

It will be hard for me to let go of my 680, but the Pre will get a hard look. I hate the idea of having to have a separate supra device. We will see.

Also, DICK BETTS ROCKS!

APR

2009

OK, I have the Treo 755 on the Verizon network.

I have to know what the details are on the Palm Pre! Sounds like there is a lot of hype, just like when Palm introduced the Treo. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Treo and have had one since the first release day! I can't live without it. Did I understand that the Pre is NOT going to support the Supra Lockbox access? (Oh no!!!) What are the other functions that it won't do? and what are the new features that it will do?

Is this going to be the next "essential tool" for us Realtors???

Thanks Dick!

MAY

2009

Dick-is it true = no SUPRA support by the new Palm Pre?? ACK! Just learned June 6 is the release date for the Palm Pre....but if no Supra...geeze!

MAY

2009

I don't think the Palm Pre has an Infrared port. Instead they support Bluetooth. Unfortunately, the Supra lockboxes require infrared to communicate.

MAY

2009

Supra has other non infrared devices opening boxes currently including many Blackberry devices. They offer a fob which converts BT to IR. Last report I got Supra would like to add the Pre.

MAY

2009

What is the latest on the Pre? Has a release date been set? Costs?

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Dick Betts

Ocala, FL

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