If you’re a social site maven who happens to be dying to dabble with the Pre, Palm wants to talk to you.
Palm has just announced a “Real Reviewer” program, in which they’ll be giving a select chunk of socialites a “current-model” Palm phone (read: probably the Pre), along with six months of service.
This is by no means the first time a phone company has proffered up a device in exchange for reviews; companies loan bloggers, journalists, and reviewers of other titles their latest gear on a daily basis. But that’s a bit different – reviewing stuff is part of our job description. That said, this isn’t the first time a company has opened up testing to the non professional, either. Nokia, for example, started up the “Nokia Pilot” testing program last year. However, I think this may be the first testing program specifically targeted at the Twitter/Facebook/Indie blog group – and if they pick their participants correctly, this could be a genius move. Major blogs and magazines carry a certain level of inherent authority, but any influence they have is rarely due to a personal connection with the reader. People tend to trust the opinions of people they know, even if they only e-know them. Get the kid who has (and communicates with) 5,000 followers to rave about the Pre, and Palm will have piqued the interest of a lot of folks they’d have otherwise missed.
If you get picked, you won’t be getting something for nothing – but what they’re expecting isn’t exactly grueling labor. In exchange for the half-year of free Pre, they want you to share any and every thought you have about the device on your favorite social network, blog, or whichever other soapbox you prefer.
If you’re interested, applying isn’t too tough. Answer 9 or 10 questions about yourself, ranging from “What phone do you currently have?” to “How would you describe yourself in 1 word?” (Ooh, ooh! Go with “delicious”! If nothing else, it’ll creep them out enough that they’ll pick you out of fear.), and then wait until Palm picks their favorites come May 8th. What have you got to lose? Sign up here.
“Philip — we’ll work to provide Real Reviewers with the most current phones that work on their carrier (or provide service on an alternate carrier). That will include the Palm Pre when available.”
I should sign up. Then I can carry all three: iPhone, office Blackberry and Pre.
Bob Scobble should do it but he got so much going with Rackspace
It’s not “real review”, it is as real as Microsoft’s “laptop hunter’
Like bloggers’ reputation could get even lower.
we have not find this kind of things in china. hope it can comes up soon.
Errr, what?
Come on, China can haz fake pre in two weeks. (probably before it even release)
Trump that! America
I just signed up.. man I want a palm pre!
I signed up, I am pretty excited for this. Hopefully I am selected!
I just signed up. I hope I get selected.I have the old Palm
just signed up, the pre really looks like its the real deal, would love to get to use it, and put it thru the paces.
I just signed up and look like it is good deal I can carry all three: iPhone, office Blackberry and Pre.
I’d love to apply for that but again, US only. I understand the reason for this but it would be helpful if companies would understand that this always makes people from outside feel like unwanted stepchild.
It is not that we in Europe will not get this anyhow – and as long as one would give information in english, I do not see a problem with that. F.e. over 60% of my traffic on my blog is from the US. And hei, who does not have a flat rate data plan anyhow.
That set aside, as long as everybody is upfront clear about what is expected, I do not have a problem with this. It is not as if I would be forced to blog about this – and if I would feel that way I should not sign up for it.
Palm III was my first PDA and I have been waiting to get my hands on the Pre somewhere to test it out. And exactly for the reason they are asking: To test it out. And share it with the rest of the world. People are different, and their scenarios are different. I don’t see how most journalists will use such a device for a longer time in a way I do use such devices.
Bottom line: They select a few people, and every decent blogger with integrity will find a way to use this in a responsible way which will provide value. As such, I am looking forward to seeing the picked reviewer because I already know what I want to ask them to test out.
I just hope Palm don’t mess up on this next release, or they are 100% over. They are in serious trouble from iphone, win mobile, android. I just hope Palm stays profitable and regain its position.
I was an original PALM user of their first two PDAs, and even so still find it hard to convince myself to pick up one of these for six months even if the price is effectively free. The iPhone has a very rich application ecosystem, and with the Android I can write an application if I can’t find it online (and have even done so). What is the PRE going to give me that I can’t find with those two? How is it, in any REAL fashion, a game changer?
I’ve been a fan of Palm’s ever since I carried the original Palm VII…and I still carry one, in the form of a Fossil Abacus WristPDA digital watch. I’m definitely interested in what the Pre could do for me, especially with regard to all the online communities I’m involved with. Hmm, maybe I can check out their dev tools, too…I’d love to build something on the Pre like the Capsuleer application for iPhone.
I’ve got my work colleagues going nuts they just can’t work out which phone I’m going for next! Of course its quite different in my social life, I’ve been banging on about it for months (one friend told me she woke up one morning and her first thought was Palm Pre and me! SWEET :D
I have been banging on about the palm pre for months (one friend told me she woke up one morning and her first thought was Palm Pre and me! My colleagues however are putting bets on which phone I will have next, no winners yet!
It can be used in the works
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