The Pre launch back on June 6th was fairly tame and quiet. Yes, stores ran out of stock, but then again, they weren’t stocking them by the hundreds at retail locations like the Apple Stores do for the iPhone. Attention on Sprint and the Palm Pre is also suffering from iPhone 3G S hysteria. Then, if you’ve checked the App Catalog lately, it’s not exactly awe-inspiring. I was willing to give Sprint and Palm kudos for making some apps available right away, but when former Palm OS powerhouse sites start pushing old Palm OS apps for the Pre (by way of using the app “Classic”) because the App Catalog is so lacking, there’s a problem.

To add some insult to injury, both Palm and Sprint stock has been floundering a bit, the Pre hasn’t attracted new subscribers to Sprint in the numbers they had hoped for, and developers are still waiting for a real webOS developer kit to make some Pre apps. If some fun, useful and interesting apps can start making their way into the App Catalog, and at a price that is similar to Apple’s App Store, it would be a good shot in the arm for the Pre. We certainly want Palm to succeed, and the Pre is a device that can get them back in the game and make them relevant again, but the pace better pick up soon or Palm risks the possibility that the Pre and webOS never quite catch on. What do you think Palm and Sprint should do differently?

Source: PC World

Previously I related my experience purchasing a shiny new Palm Pre at the Sprint Store on Saturday. Once I got home with my new gadget, I took several photos of the unboxing. The box the Pre is packaged in is practically identical to the new packaging used for the Treo Pro. Palm has done a good job in minimizing their packaging for a more eco-friendly delivery of their smart phones. 

Inside the Pre box, you’ll find the Pre, a micro-USB cable for syncing and charging, a stereo headset, travel charger, rechargeable lithium ion battery, a phone pouch, and printed materials. The charger is compact and cylinder-shaped, making it easy to pack away and carry with you.

After installing the Pre’s battery, I noticed that it came with roughly 30% of a charge right out of the box, providing enough power to set up your phone for the first time. The only thing missing for me was the Touchstone charging kit, which is sold separately and was sold out at the store where I bought my Pre. I am looking forward to using the Touchstone so that I won’t need to open the little plastic side door to access the charging port every time I need to recharge my Pre. Soon I will post pictures of the Touchstone in action, and until then, take a look at the rest of the unboxing photos after the break!

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What you are looking at is the Pre that would soon be placed in a Sprint shopping bag and then out the door with me. I arrived at the Sprint Store in Salt Lake City, Utah, at about 8:50 a.m. Believing I would have to wait until at least Monday to get my Pre, I was surprised to learn when I called the store that they still had six Pres left. By the time I arrived, they had five, and while I was there getting mine activated, the remaining five Pres were sold. I asked how many Pres they had to begin with for launch day and I was told they started with twenty-five.

It was obvious that the Pre launch was much lower-key than the madness surrounding the launch of the original iPhone and even the iPhone 3G. I had no line to wait in and no glitches during activation. It will be interesting to see how the numbers bear out for the launch of the much-awaited and exhaustively-discussed Palm Pre. Be sure to check back here often for news as it becomes available. 

Now if I can just find a Touchstone in stock. Did any of you get a Pre? Did you have to wait in line? Let us know about your Pre buying experience!

Earlier this afternoon, at an undisclosed Sprint Nextel store location, I held the polished riverbed stone-like Pre in the palm of my hand, and I was sold. I walked into the Sprint store to inquire about the launch tomorrow morning, calling plans, pricing, etc.; all the things I want to know to help me decide if I would pick up a line of service with Sprint so I could have the Pre.

The Wireless Specialist – we’ll call him “John” to protect him from any repercussions – was very excited about the Pre and, seeing my own excitement, waxed conspiratorial and slipped into the back room to emerge with a Pre. Once I felt it’s weight resting in my hand, I knew I would be back in the morning to make an official purchase. Given the limited quantity (this particular location will only have 10 phones), I will buy it with my company sponsorship and one will be ready for me to pick up on Monday. I’ve waited this long, I think I can wait another 2 days. Just maybe.

Although the Pre has now been heavily reviewed already on numerous sites, I’ll just say that a few moments with this slick polished beauty is all I need to know that Palm and Sprint have a winner, hands down.

Verizon says they will have a Pre or something like unto it within six months. AT&T has similar thoughts, hoping to bust a move with their own Pre or other Palm webOS device once the Sprint exclusivity with Palm ends. Sprint Nextel’s CEO Dan Hesse says, “not so fast!” If you really want a Pre but are stuck in a contract with one of the “other” guys, maybe you were encouraged by the claims of Verizon and AT&T – that they will have a Pre or something Pre-ish soon – so you thought you could wait it out. According to Mr. Hesse, you might as well head over to a Sprint store because they will be the only game in town for a while.

At a cnet press event, Mr. Hesse said, “They need to check their facts. That just is not the case. Both Palm and Sprint have agreed not to discuss the length of the exclusivity deal. But I can tell you it’s not six months.” Interesting quote. On one hand, Mr. Hesse states that Palm and Sprint have not discussed any set time limit on the exclusivity, yet he then firmly denies that it’s only six months. The Palm Pre will be the flagship of Sprint Nextel – a device they will market to showcase their new and improved network. On the eve of the Pre launch, the last thing you would want if you were Sprint are your competitors claiming to have the same whiz-bang webOS phone on their network in six months or less. Whether they admit it or not, Sprint needs a successful launch of the Pre and they need to milk it for all it’s worth.

If what Mr. Hesse says is true and that Sprint will have exclusivity well beyond six months, how many of you on “brand X” networks will saunter over to a Sprint store and pick up a Pre? How many of you will wait for Verizon and AT&T to get theirs?

Source: cnet

Rather than imitating a prize fighter guaranteeing a knock-out before the fight has started, both Sprint and Palm are posturing themselves in a far more conservative stance, stating publicly that they do not expect long lines of hungry Pre customers on launch day. Mark Elliott, speaking for Sprint, indicated that they hope to give each customer lots of one-on-one love and make sure it’s a positive experience for all.  He said, “[Success] is not about having a line out the door; it’s about being able to treat each customer and make sure they’re happy with their decision.” 

I don’t know about you, but all kinds of things come to mind concerning this attempt to manage expectations. Do both Sprint and Palm have concerns about limited inventory for launch? Are they worried that limited mass marketing will equate to a conservative turn-out at the stores? Or maybe they have enough extra boots on the ground to handle the deluge of Pre buyers so that a long line will never form? What about our first-in-line-guy who has camped outside a Sprint store all week – was it sane necessary? I guess we will all find out in less than two days.

If you want to get a jump on your new life with the Palm Pre, you just may be able to pick up the Palm Touchstone now at some Sprint stores. The Touchstone is the dock for charging your imaginary, as-yet-to-be-purchased Pre. Forum member Artap99 over at everythingpre did just that and has the pictures to prove it. In the tech world, purchasing accessories prior to having the device they are meant for is just a small leap of faith, so what are you waiting for?

Source: everythingpre

A forum member over at everythingpre seems to have found and posted some inventory sheets for the Palm Pre launch at Best Buy stores. If these leaked inventory sheets are authentic, they reveal some interesting information about Pre inventory levels and should certainly be heeded if you want to head to a store that has 26 Pre phones instead of 2 or 3. A host of inventory sheets are on display and it wouldn’t hurt to take a peek at the Best Buy store near you so you can strategize your plan of attack on June 6th. How many of you are headed to Best Buy, or will you hit a Sprint store in your neighborhood?

Source:  everythingpre

Sprint has already hinted at shortages of the Palm Pre on the June 6 launch day and thereafter, but according to numerous tip sources at PreCentral.net, it’s rumored that Sprint is expecting daily shipments of Pre phones to their retail stores, excluding Sundays.  There is no further news as to the approximate numbers to ship to each store daily — one, two, four or more? — but it’s at least good marketing sense to have a little something every day for those that hunger to hold a Pre in their hands.  Maybe that’s both Sprint’s and Palm’s strategy with a limited offering at launch; rather than sell out completely on day 1, it’s best to ration them out on a daily basis to instill hope in those that can’t get it on launch day.  We’re hoping that each new day will bring numerous Pre phones to each Sprint store!

Source: PreCentral

This is hardly news of the spectacular, but it’s entertaining if not a little perplexing that we likely have the very first person in line for the much-coveted and drooled-over Palm Pre, courtesy of tinycomb and one of their forum members.  Although remaining anonymous, this die-hard said, “I’ve been so disappointed with Sprint since my parents got me a plan three years ago. I hear there is only going to be 4 phones at each spot, and I’m GETTING MINE!”.

Given that there’s an awful lot of time between now and Saturday (official Pre launch), perhaps it’s fair to say that this young man sums it up in his statement – his parents got him his Sprint plan and he seems to have the “occupational flexibility” to camp outside a Sprint store for the next 108 + hours.  Good luck to you, young friend.  I honestly and sincerely hope that the Pre is worth the wait!

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