The Palm Pre finally has a confirmed US launch date and price tag attached to it. Apple iPhone killer or complete flop - we'll finally see what the hype is all about.
Keeping their promise of a "first half of 2009" launch date, Sprint and Palm announced that the long-awaited Pre will arrive in shops on June 6 for $200 (about £130) with a two-year contract. The phone will be sold in the US at Sprint, Best Buy, Radio Shack and some Wal-Mart outlets.
It's been a long and slightly frustrating journey, however. At CES, hands-on time was heavily restricted with the Pre, which was baffling. Sure, the Pre's ergonomic hardware looks sexy and its webOS software seems mighty efficient, but how can we judge without actually touching the thing? Then there were the numerous "leaked" launch date rumours and Sprint and Palm's refusal to comment on any of them - these leaks are beginning to feel de-rigeur for any high-profile product launch.
Sprint and Palm's overprotectiveness, combined with their tight-lipped stance on pricing and availability has raised some suspicions - including my own - about whether the CES announcement was a bit, well premature (pun intended). It isn't a question of whether the world is ready for the Pre, but vice versa. Do Palm and Sprint know what they're doing?
The decision to launch the Pre just two days before Apple's World Wide Developer Conference is risky, but understandable. Clearly, it will distract from the chatter about Apple's third-generation iPhone software and hardware. Much is known about the iPhone OS 3.0 software by now, but nothing concrete is known about the hardware. Apple may announce the third-generation iPhone hardware at WWDC.
The pro here is that the Pre launch could overshadow whatever Apple has up its sleeve. But it could also delay launch day sales, as consumers may hold off on buying a Pre until Apple's announcement. One has to wonder, too, whether Palm and Sprint felt rushed to make this date. It would be a huge letdown if the Pre's debut was marred by firmware bugs like the initial release of the RIM BlackBerry Storm.
I have high hopes, though, as both a journalist and a consumer. The iPhone and BlackBerry-centric smartphone world desperately needs to be shaken up. Google Android isn't quite there yet, but I think the Pre (and the subsequent webOS devices) has what it takes. And despite my limited hands-on time, I can't forget the silky operation of webOS. From the deck of cards model for managing multitasking to the Synergy email and IM interfaces, webOS might be one of the best-designed, user-friendly smartphone platforms out there. June 6 can't come fast enough.
See all mobile phone reviews
See also: Palm 'Mini Pre' smartphone rumours emerge
Ginny Mies writes for PC World
Comments
pkansara said: This is Great Idea
pkansara said: This is Great Idea
pkansara said: This is great idea
AnnJ said: Tmobile contract almost up Goodbye Dash so iphone or palm pre what would you do
iphonerulez said: Im sure it will fall somewhere in between If the Pre works as advertised and buyers dont mind moving to Sprint then the Palm should do well But calling it an iPhone killer is going a bit too far Consider it an iPhone alternative for those that want a keyboard I dont want to see Palm go out of business so I hope the Pre earns revenue for the company I like to say toe the Palm fanboys that the new iPhone will destroy the Pre but thats just to get a rise out of them The Pre UI seems nice enough from all the demos Ive seen
John said: I wish them well but I think the Pre will not be a big hit Among the small world of tech obsessed fans it will garner a lot of interest In the real world of people with many varied interests it will barely cause a ripple If they had come out with this two years ago theyd have had a hit Now it is just one more touch phone in a crowd trying to compete with Apple and RIMM They need to have something spectacular not just very good to differentiate It doesnt matter if you like Apple or RIMM this is just simple marketing
AlfieJr said: The pro here is that the Pre launch could overshadow whatever Apple has up its sleeveare you insane Apple iPhone events always totally dominate their news cycles and 30 obviously has enough new stuff coming to do it againPalm is hoping to hook its caboose on to that Apple WWDC media hype train with lots of Pre vs iPhone 30 articlesposts certain to be written all over the place that will be excellent free advertisingPalm is not actually going head-to-head with Apple right now since it is selling only to Sprint customers and Apple sells only to ATampT customers but on Sprint Palm IS in direct competition with RIM Nokia and WinMobile phones they are necessarily the real competitors targeted for Palms 2009 success or certain death not the iPhone at allthe super-smartphone market is getting much more crowded this year with new products from everyone so Palm needs a big launch hype ASAP before the others put them outthats why they picked June 6
jbelkin said: The iPhone was the FIRST working touchscreen cell phone that was easy to use NO OTHER cell phone will ever be able to take that away even if the PRE is a great phone it will not be revolutionary merely an update but there are some problems - Palm admits they can only manufacture about 500000 of them in the global race where Apple sells that every WEEK yea good luck making a dent plus no iTunes store yes they will launch an app store but is the Pre a movie-muisc AND app stire No The iphone is a glorified ipod at the end of your contract while a PRE is just a dead phoneSprint amp Palm - marketing wise is no match for ATampT amp Apple plus Palm has 300 million in cash TOTAL not a good starting pointSo PRE is nice but at best Palm might take away a few points from everyone else but Palm wont have more than 5 of the smartphone market Enough cash flw to stay in business
JPO said: Why does everything have to kill something else How about we use the term coexist Sensationalism should only be used in moderation