Palm Centro 2 to follow shortly after Pre release?
While the timing of this latest Palm rumor is likely way off if the company’s history is to be considered, the subject matter seems fairly obvious: A WebOS-powered Centro-alike is in the works. Citing “a seemingly reliable firsthand source,” Palm Infocenter states that Palm will deliver a Centro 2 in Fall 2009. The handset will maintain much of the current Centro’s styling and will also be headed to Sprint. While it is very difficult if not impossible to imagine Palm releasing two new handsets so closely to each other, could this be part of Palm’s new strategy as it positions itself for a comeback? Yeah, we think not. There is no doubt that Palm will eventually issue a new handset powered by WebOS that uses a form factor similar to the Centro, but it is most definitely not going to hit the market a few short months after the Pre is released. A move like that would be ridiculously cannibalistic and Palm has shown us that it means business this time around. Besides, Palm will already be plenty busy dropping GSM Pre models around the world this coming Fall, leaving precious few resources to be allotted to a new Sprint handset launch.
Other rumors that have surfaced in the past few days indicate that the next Palm handset to sport WebOS will be a touchscreen-only candybar. Really? After all the little digs Palm reps gave the iPhone during CES? Just to be safe, maybe someone should start a rumor that Palm’s second WebOS-powered handset will be a clam shell so all the bases are covered…
I hope the Centro 2 has DOrA and some type of refresh of the design
Keyboard or not, at least Palm would offer a phone with or without a keyboard so people could actually choose instead of being forced.
Let’s hear it for Palm’s _Fisher_Price_Kiddie_Toy, with your choice of rainbow-colored Made In China plastic faceplate, Part Deux!
In the past Palm made a lot of devices without keyboards- maybe this mythical all-touch WebOS device will have a special capacitive stylus and the triumphant return of Graffiti? (No, I didn’t think it was that likely either)
I fail to see why a little extension to the tiny Palm portfolio would be “ridiculously cannibalistic” if the handsets are reasonable different. Practically all other mobile phone companies do the same thing, and usually very successful even with half a dozen or more somewhat similar phones available at the same time…why not offer a keyboardless, slimmer version of the Pre, for example? The potential user base would be bigger with little effort, while careful market positioning could separate them far enough so that they’re not a threat to each other.
I simply doubt that this rumor or the timing is true for a another and imho simpler reason: the OMAP3 chipset is just to expensive to be used in a “Centro” budget device.
But either way, I sure hope that they’ll offer a webOS device with extensible storage and a better cam soonish…
But will it have Graffiti?
I don’t agree that a Centro type device would cannibalize anything. It broadens the potential customer base AND increases the potential number of end users for developers coding for the new OS.
Exactly, DavidB. I’ve seen plenty of women on their Centros over the past year. Even my fiancee, who prefers simple phones, loves it along with the LG Lotus near-smartphone.
Centro really wouldn’t cannibalize Palm’s business; for the company, it actually creates something of a step between the high-end smartphones like the Pre and the messaging-oriented near-smartphones marketed by Samsung (the Rant) and LG (the Lotus). For those who want to move up (in features), but not too far up (in price or features), the Centro could be a good buy.
Does this mean that they are gonna update the Palm Desktop too For Windows Linux and Mac?
If so that’s all I need screw syncing to gmail and outlook..
yeah and bring back the stylus and the writing gesture.
The Pre(o) is an entertainment phone without a secure backbone, not a smartphone. But thanks for the thinly-veiled, unsolicited Sprint commercial, nonetheless.
The iPhone is an entertainment phone without a secure backbone, not a smartphone. But thanks for the thinly-veiled, unsolicited AT&T/Apple commercial, nonetheless.
(Before the world jumps on this comment with malice.)What defines a smartphone. Some will say phone with an seperate OS. Then that would cover Motorola’s with WinMo but not BlackBerrys(OS/phone made by Rim–OS/iPhone made by Apple). I say a smartphone is a PDA phone that has cut/copy/paste: covers Nokias,Palm,BlackBerries,even Motorolas. The iPhone is a high end multimedia dumbphone like the Instinct. (Ok, death threat comments, I’m ready. Bring it.)
I agree with Ken. The iPhone is just an iPod with a web browser and almost decent phone capabilities slapped in in a way that makes it look cool.
You can’t even multitask!
It has all of the same features as the Instint, except better screen, better browser, and no Java support so it can’t run JavaOffice.
Not to mention my aunt used to have a Motorola dumbphone with Copy and paste.
^And I say a smartphone is able to close apps without the use of a task manager.
No one is defending the iPhone here. It’s just another flavor for different people.
That came off as a shill comment
^Considering the source … Thank you.
Idiot.
I enjoy my centro on vzw. I don’t see the point in arguing the difference between a smartphone and a “dumb”phone. Its such a stupid argument to me. Its only a dumb phone if after using it you realize it sucks and you were ripped off. Phones are different for a reason. Different clientele. The dumb girl in my math class last semester may be perfectly content with her instinct, while the yuppie in my psychology course can’t live without his blackberry, and my boyfriend is just fine with his original G’Zone. I can’t stand it, but its not mine so who am I to complain right? I prefer the palm OS, so I have a centro. I would be excited if a centro came out with webOS.
The Centro 2 is going to have place too, the current one can be seen everywhere
^As the loss-leader among loss-leaders, the Centro/Centro2 doesn’t help carrier’s bottom-line. But, if you like antiquated, left-behind OSs in Fisher-Price hardware, by all means … Go for it.
There must be a market for it because they keep selling on 3 different carriers and and the colors keep coming, can’t be too much of a loss may even be the most profitable thing for Palm. Why not build on it, mrs. backdoor is of the opinion that if your not winning you should quit
@$49/$99 retail for a Centro, you’re joking, right, Joke? Rosey Palm’s production costs aren’t even covered. How many manufacturing companies have you run anyway, Sir Squirt?
So Palm’s trying to push inventory out the door on the cheap. What’s the issue? It’s helping their business due to the free advertising every time a centro owner pulls the phone out of their pocket. let’s see… either let them sit in the warehouse, or sell them as a loss leader while showcasing the name brand? hmmm simple business decision to me.
We’re talking about profoitability here. Sprint [and other carriers] have the Centro at bottom-of-the-barrel pricing since immediately after its launch. More units sold by carriers only helps carriers sell more data, but Palm is left with nothing to show for its production costs. Puuuure Genius!
What difference does it make how much of a hit is taken on the phone, as a consumer the lower the price is the. Those who stand for nothing fall for anything, your stance is nobody should stand up for Sprint or Palm even if they have a product we believe in. I don’t think you really believe all the crap you posted and is just looking for a reaction, look at all the times a valid argument came behind her’s or post to bring it back on topic an insult followed
You’re _still_ confused, aren’t you, Princess? After you get out of school and enter the real world, I’d be more than glad to educate you on how all this silliness _really_ works. Not until you pull your grades up, however.
Don’t like the taste of your own words ["(Centro) may even be the most profitable thing for Palm"]? Tough shit. Such a world-class coward.
Thanks for the invite to help you cheerlead for easily mislead companies, but no thanks.
Bitchboy.
Your point still hasn’t been made, a cheap phone ruins the world along with Sprint’s high prices.