It’s now just about May and there’s still been no official word from Palm when it comes to an official launch date or pricing for the Pre. All we know is what we’ve known for a long time — it’ll launch the first half of 2009; a window that is quickly closing. But a few pieces of new evidence today point to an actual specific date. And it’s a very intriguing one — June 7: The day before a likely Apple keynote address at its WWDC conference.
That is of course interesting because Apple could very well use that keynote to unveil the next version of the iPhone, just as it did last year for the iPhone 3G. A public launch of the Pre the day before could suck some of the wind out of Apple’s sails. But it’s also pretty risky, as it means Palm only has one day to convince everyone that its product is better then the latest version of the iPhone which is likely to have some substantial improvements. And no one knows for sure what all those improvements are — it could very well blow the Pre right out of the water, one day into its young life.
The June 7 date for the Pre comes from some supposed internal Sprint documents that name that date as one of two possible launch windows. Earlier rumors had the device appearing in May, but as I said, it’s a bit odd that we’re just about into May and have yet to hear a date or a price. A few people in the know that I’ve spoken to will only say that they’re sure it’s coming “very soon,” but don’t seem to know the exact date either. There are also rumors about the device getting ready to ship, and talk about a casting call for a Palm viral video set to air in June.
Apple and Palm have had an interesting relationship of late, to say the least. Obviously, there are the several former Apple employees who now work for Palm, including some former key Apple execs. Then, there was that whole thinly veiled threat Apple made to defend its IP, if pushed. Something which Palm responded to. And more recently, a partner at Elevation, which owns around 40% of Palm, said more or less that the Pre would kick the iPhone’s ass. If Palm really does release the Pre on June 7, expect tensions to rise even further.
WWDC is running June 8 – 12 and sold out today — in record time.
I think it’s highly unlikely.
Sounds more like a suicide attempt.
Also the Pre is in a lot of testing engineers’ hands for almost a month now.
I don’t see why they couldn’t launch at may 17th
Yeah, I know a bunch of people have it now, but at some point for a public roll out you have to do publicity — and preferably not a week before.
The thing is – Pre as it is now already bears too much risk. To make such a bold move to directly go up against iPhone 3rd Gen & Apple’s market hyperbole will increase its chance to FAIL by ten-fold at least.
The pre compete well with the current iPhone 3G. But it takes Apple one trick up the sleeve – just ONE awesome feature after all – to render the Pre yet another iPhone-killer wannabe.
And Apple always keeps one trick up the sleeve.
The question is: How successful Pre need to be to avoid been the one more roadkill of iPhone?
Video recording is enough to kill iphone. Instead of kill call suicide.
Wake me up when pre can take video that at least comparable to Flip mino
Silly mactards. Sorry, I’ll take a phone with the greatest hardware any day over a toy that doubles as a mediocre phone with its major selling point being a store full of ifart apps.
Bring on the Omnia HD, N97, Pre (or any other number of phones arriving that blow away the iHype machine).
This would very likely be suicide. The iPhone has such momentum that the Pre launch a day before would probably fall on deaf ears of those (journalists) eagerly awaiting ‘the big’ news. In this case the Pre would fall by the wayside, no matter how good it is.
If it is really good it could launch after the iPhone and grab attention of those still missing features on the iPhone. If it is so-so they better get it out quick and keep improving before it’s too late.
I think it would be a good move. Even if the iHype gets more press and more sales, it would still put a dent in their armor.
As someone who will get the Palm Pre the day it comes out, this would absolutely be suicide on their part. An unnecessary and arrogant move.
To begin with, it would take a helluva Pre to compete with the iPhone. Perhaps Palm just wants to ride the iPhone media craze, and wants to get mentioned in the same line as the iPhone, by keeping the launch dates so close. As it is, Palm is already dead. They have nothing to lose. So why not just go head to head, and hope for a miracle to happen.
Wouldn’t it make more sense to launch it one day after the iPhone? Like that they would give the iPhone some time for press and then shadow it off.
I agree, one of the worst product launch decisions ever. The Pre has exactly one day in the headlines before its overshadowed by iPhone news and Palm is thrust back into irrelevance. Palm is already stretching it thin – a May launch may well have gained more Pre sales while now just about everyone interested in a new smartphone will be waiting for Apple.
There’s one small possibility – Palm has inside knowledge of Apple’s product roadmap and knows that any June announcements won’t be that great.
Note: SprintGurus.com is selling supposedly “premium forum ” access for $10, which it claims having more info about this leaked Sprint document.
Smells really fishy to me.
Forgetting all the “de-throwning” rhetoric and assuming Palm has the product, the distraction factor of “pre-releasing” (pun intended) could be a huge win for the market underdog. The objective is not to convince buyers, but to reach them.
Conversely, Apple would have very limited time to react to such a bold move. At least Palm is taking fate into their own two hands. I just wish they would market Pre on its own merits.
The Palm Pre would get swallowed whole by the Apple Frenzy, if they were to do that. I think Palm should release the Pre now or early May to secure a steady foot before June.
WWDC is going to be hell for them from firmware 3.0 & the new iphone, to the rumored Apple devices, and the onslaught on new apps, people going to be saying, “Palm who?”
It seems to me, releasing 1 day before a new iphone would be a death wish for the pre. Has anyone heard any feedback from the current test users? I’m wondering which phone will be best for real estate? blackberry curve, iphone or pre?
Jeff – you reach buyers by advertising your product, which neither Palm nor Sprint have begun yet.
Apple has had since CES to react. Palm very much has the product, and Apple knows it.
The fat lady hasn’t sung yet, its all still a rumor. Despite collective frustration and ambiguity I have to hand it to Palm for giving those of us interested (and those who are potentially concerned) one hell of a ride.
Palm still exists?
Both Ruby and Roger McNamee will be at Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher’s D Conference on 5/26, so if I were a betting man (and I am), my money would be on the Pre being launched at D. Recall that Jeff Hawkins launched the fatally-flawed Foleo at D a few years back.
if only iPhone would improve the PHONE function, that would make me very very happy. If the Palm Pre (what kind of name is that anyway?) can get developers to make a set compatible for the Pre – and people can actually hear me when I talk – I’d consider switching
get developers to make a set of apps – forgot to finish the thought… in the end, it’s the apps that keep me glued to my iPhone
Totally agree it’s an odd and meaningless name.
Please let the Palm’s executive teams egos run wild and announce the Pre the day before.
This should be funny!
Hey jackasses, nobody knows if the Pre and the iPhone are priced to compete against one another.
If Palm is smart, they’ll let the Apple fanboys pay the premium price and go after the fat middle (as some have already said they will do)
How smart would it be for Palm to sell the Pre at a loss?
At 8GB instead of 16GB and a smaller screen size who says they’d be selling at a loss?
Interesting theories. Personally I believe Pre will not stem the “Apple Frenzy” tide nor attract sphone Luddites. That begs the questions: What percentage of fence sitters will they capture? What market share does that represent?
Despite all the difficulties, Palm is still a recognized and respected brand. A successful launch could spell many iPhone app ports by developers looking to increase their revenue base. As consumers (of any platform), we can only win…
Isn’t this what Microsoft did when they announced new Zune models just before the touch was announced? That turned out well…
That said, unless Palm releases the Pre in the next month (and therefore has a brief window where they have the more advanced phone), I don’t see launch timing having much impact.
It doesn’t make any sense to me for Palm to release the day before WWDC. Are they trying to piggy back on the copious press coverage the iPhone will presumably get?
“…in related news Palm has also released their much anticipated Pre this week. Back to you Jim”
It is great if only iPhone would improve the phone function, that would make me very very happy. If the Palm Pre can get developers to make a set compatible for the Pre and people can actually hear me when I talk I’d consider switching
What will happen if they price PRE $150? But a day after the iPhone :)
This is a smart approach by Palm/Sprint. They’ll announce very soon that pre-orders can be placed on the Pre, and Palm/Sprint is giving potential customers every possible chance to place an order, right up until the WWDC keynote when Apple will unveil the latest iPhone.
So potential customers will have to make a choice: Pre-order, or wait until the new iPhone is unveiled and make a comparative choice.
Having said that, this article is still based on speculation, so my conclusion may not end up being valid.
Either way, I love seeing two fantastic smartphone releases just around the corner!
win win for comsumers but suicide for Palm & Sprint as they know that new customers have 30 days in order to refund and opt out of their new contract. So even though Pre is released on 17 May or in June Palm is in trouble…. Now if they announce something at last minute surprise like….say….4G radio active in Pre and included in everything plan..then they might have chance but if I am Palm, thought of Apple announcing some new feature can give me nightmares.
Who cares really. People on Sprint will pick the Pre people on ATT will pick the new Iphone and people on Verizon will wait to see which is better and then decide if they want to switch or stick with what they have. I heard only 200K handsets would be available at launch so as far as sales they better book then before the IPhone launch otherwise the pundits will say it is no Iphone killer based on sales.
My money is that Palm launches the Pre in May – before the June 7th date proposed here. This weekend I saw a friend of mine who is a consultant for a number of telecom companies and who spends a lot of time in Kansas City (Sprint’s HQ). When I asked him point blank when the Pre was launching he said “in a few weeks” pretty confidently. “A few weeks” (on April 25th) sounds like a May launch to me.
I don’t think a Pre launch would get swallowed up in the Pre frenzy at all. Pre would ride the Apple wave because MANY pieces written about the new iPhone would compare the Pre in the same article. Pre would get its own attention and then piggy back on a lot of Apple’s press.
who buys these shitty wannabe devices? palm, samsung, android? i can’t believe anyone would buy a phone these days that is not a blackberry or iphone. what are you thinking? a desperate cry for attention? were you the audio visual guy in high school?
Have you even used a Treo or G1? Both are capable platforms that have many of the same features as BB and iPhone. Many people don’t want to switch to ATT (or T-mobile) to get an iPhone.