Palm’s new handset: Pre-mature hype?
There are many who would argue that Palm’s future success rides on the shoulders of of webOS, if not the Pre itself. While it most certainly seems like an exciting device, there are plenty of skeptics out there. Even those who were lucky enough to parade around with their units weren’t that impressed when they first got the handset. A recent survey conducted by ChangeWave Research is now showing that prospective smartphone buyers are looking to RIM or Apple first — of 4,292 adults surveyed, only 4% showed interest in purchasing a Palm Pre according to the poll. The most popular choices were BlackBerry, getting 37% of the vote, and the iPhone with 30% of the surveyed group. Add to that the fact that Sprint will be the Pre’s exclusive carrier and you have 1% of respondents who said they would be willing to switch carriers. Of course we don’t know how ChangeWave found its test group and we trust you guys much more — how many of you are going to pick up the Palm Pre, and are willing to switch carriers to do so?
The plan is very afforable–unlimited use for 50 bucks a month? Its a no brainer for parents and no more confortation with kids. If they market it with great colors kids and teenagers will love it.I dont care how much it will cost to switch carriers–There is no price on peace in the home.
I currently have two lines with Sprint…one off contract, the other on contract until the fall. I’ll definitely be picking up a Pre at/shortly after release. If it doesn’t work out, the Pre goes on Ebay to pay ETF, and I’ll be moving on to Niagara or Sprint’s forthcoming Android device.
If this thing ever comes out…and the initial reviews live up to the hype…I will probably be getting one. I’ve been a sprint customer for 8 years. Not really liking the $99 a month mandatory service plan. $1200 a year for a phone is hard to justify unless it could do tethering. If it were about $75 a month, it would be a no brainer.
More indication that Sprint is the more reliable, less controlling carrier? Apple recently denied the iPhone SlingPlayer application because of AT&T’s concern that streaming video would oversaturate their already stressed 3G network.
I wonder if the author plans to do a followup story, now reporting that the survey used as resource for this story was the real hype? Without counting (and this is certainly an unprofessional survey), but its looking like 4 out of 5 people commenting (with currently 252 respondents) plans to either buy the Pre as an existing customer or switch over to Sprint for the Pre.
Rock on Sprint/Pre!
i live in a sub of charlotte nc and sprint had to let me out of my contract because i got 0 bars at my house. but still sprint has alot of ppl in the ”palm” of thier hand right now. hahahaha
-Still- waiting for non-anecdotal evidence to show that this new Pre toy will draw from other carriers. If iPhone is greater than AT&T, by pulling 30% of its -2008- subscribers from other carriers, and this smartphone-specific buyer survey of almost 5000 showing 1% of prospective smartphone buyers willing to cross carrier lines … Where’s the beef?
Sprint better be willing to give the phone away in exchange for all the software subscriptions required for the phone to fully function. I don’t follow why they didn’t follow the path of software *licenses*, which is the norm, but then again, if Palm is successful, software subscriptions are infinitely more profitable than licenses.
Nothing like going out in a blaze of glory, I suppose.
It looks like you will have to continue to wait for that answer, as it doesn’t yet exist. Nor did it for AT&T/iPhone before its release.
We have no idea what the full demographics of this survey are, but clearly given public sentiment the results are inaccurate.
The negativity of this article, and the very reason it was written, can be attributed to one item:
“Fool contributor Tim Beyers had stock and options positions in Apple and Google and a stock position in Nokia at the time of publication.”
I prefer to base opinion on accurate writing, more comprehensive and documented forecasting, and fact. None of the above is exhibited in Beyers’ article. While certainly not fact, the huge delta between commenters here (and others – as mentioned above, go to search.twitter.com for a taste of the Pre buzz) and the Changewave survey indicate that significant inaccuracies exist.
What -does- exist is the plan to force ongoing software subscriptions (VS one-time license costs).
As with any proper prospective scientific sampling, the individual respondents are random, thereby excluding them from being defined within any demographic. That is, unless there is a retrospective meta-analysis performed after the initial study to examine the individual characteristics of each and every respondent.
It’s a known fact that those who are specialists in an area of research, authorship, technology, etc, know with whom to invest to achieve their personal goals. Public disclosure of said interests are not to be shitted upon, but treated with proper respect as the converse is what you are asking for. Your red herring argument is laughable on its face. No one in the know is void of economic interest. Stick with your community circular if that is more your cup o’tea.
All jcunwired is saying that if you base this article and the responses, there is more for than against.
@Beatoff
Give it a rest, no cares for your insight. And your rebuttles are lame. ie. Bitchboi, or whatever your limited vocabulary comes up with. Go test the depth of the ocean with both feet.
I won’t insult you as you insult others, its not my style. You may feel free to do so, clearly it is yours.
What I am saying is we don’t know who was polled. Was this solely AT& customers? Would that not alter significantly the results of the poll? Even the comments to Beyers’ article indicate – by a wide margin – the inaccuracy of his claim. Only 2 of 24 agreed with him, one vociferously, the other less so.
I am sticking with my community circular, I suggest it might be time for you to move on – clearly you are not. Far outnumbered, its understandable that your ego is taking a hit. Maybe Apple has forums more conducive to your pessimism?
To bring it to a more sophisticated level, perhaps you might articulate why Sprint and Palm will fail, because if you are doing so purely from boygeniusreport/Motley Fool all indication is that you will be laughed at continually if you remain here.
^This wasn’t a mall survey. Get it through your head that a controlled study requires more than you are willing to admit.
Inconveniently, that fact also supports the conclusions reached, eg Palm is -not- to Sprint as Apple is to AT&T, which translates into a dangerously steep hill to climb. That is all. Tweeting isn’t going to get you there, any more than anonymous posts on a blog’s comment section will not as well. Good luck with your conversion rate. Clearly, you’re going to need it.
Oh boy. Insults sling, very grownup of you.
Since its clear we’re dealing with someone whose IQ is in a tight race with his shoe size for the finish line, I’m through here.
Good luck to all of those anticipating the Pre, I’m right there with you.
I have been waiting for an acceptable Palm device on Sprint for years. I have had every Palm device since the original Pilot. I realize this is not the original Palm OS but am planiing on buying two, one for me and one for my wife to replace our aging Palm smartphones (with Sprint). 4G sounds good too
I LOVE SPRINT. HAVE BEN WITH THEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THEY ARE DOING GREAT THINGS! AND THEY ARE NOT DYING. I WILL TRY THIS AND I THINK IT WILL BE A HIT!
@the sanctimonious ass-clown who said: “I won’t insult you as you insult others, its not my style”
… who also said: “all indication is that you will be laughed at continually if you remain here” … “I suggest it might be time for you to move on”
Just whose intelligence do you -think- you’re insulting, trolling-idiot.
So many people don’t seem to understand that the Pre WILL be on other carriers. Just like the all the Treo’s and Centrino’s b4 it. This will (more then likely) only last 6 months to a year, the go to AT & T and Verizon, then maybe t-moble and other smaller carriers.
And I am getting the Pre on uno day.
Well said, sir!
-More- timely editorial bullshit from the mental-midgets, eh?
Honestly I cant wait for sprint to drop this palm pre…..I currently sell both sprint and at&t at radio shack and ive also worked with verizon…The three top!!!….honestly although sprints customer service sucks, they do have the lowest prices…..and their network is still great…..I think its worth it
I agree with Backbeat’s assessment that Pre’s ultimate success will face many hurdles prior to its release.
New hardware, new software, releasing to one of the smaller carriers that has had issues with their reputation (I have Sprint and am very satisfied but have had issues w/ CS and have had friends/relatives w/ the same), pricing issues, as well as possible required plan changes, there’s a lot of factors that could would limit how successful the Pre’s release will be.
I’m fully rooting for both Palm and Sprint to have a winner here however due to the financial limitations of both companies but particularly Palm (they’ve taken out add’l loans to just get through this quarter) I think we’re likely to see Palm either go bankrupt or get bought out in the next 6 months. I see Web OS living on so long as the launch goes smoothly. Anything that’s remotely like the Storm launch though and the future of the Web OS will be in jeopardy.
It surprises me to hear, how people are still complaining about Sprint, e.g., size of company, customer service, etc..
I believe they are in the top three, nationally? And the few times I’ve had to call in were only to add equipment, or adjust my plan to the $99 offer. Case in point… I added a wi-fi USB device. They wanted 59.95 a month for the free device. The CS rep. advised me to wait two week, if possible, and I could get a bundled package with my plan, and save $10 a month, for a total of $149.95. I did. And I’m more than pleased, all around! Sprint, is the only provider that can get a single to Palos Verdes, in the LA area.
My ATT and VZW friends seem to have a lot more issues and dissatisfaction.
I can’t understand why anyone wouldn’t support the company offering the best value, in the overpriced under delivered arena of the so called leaders.
ATT will continue to fight for the exclusive rights to iPhone, and Sprint will do the same with Palm, if it takes off.
The bigger threat seems to be the MetroPCS, and Boost Mobile’s of the world. They don’t have the sexy phones, but their service is as good or better! I speak to a friend in Florida, calling from LA, and the voice quality improvement is substantially superior to her former T-Mobile carrier.
At $40 to $50 a month for everything, and the current worsening economic conditions. we may soon be discussing the new hardware release of these carriers, who are gaining market share?
I’m already with Sprint and have a Palm that hasn’t given me any trouble. I definitely plan on trying the Pre when it comes out.
In my opinion, the biggest limitation to the Pre is the lack of integration with iTunes. Many people use an iPod, which is one reason the iPhone is so appealing. I’m not sure what application you would need to sync your songs/podcasts/movies with the Pre, but I’m guessing it’s not as user friendly as iTunes. Anyone know?
I listened to the GES introduction and I liked all that I heard. I am a long time Palm user and I like the simplicity. The Palm Pre sounds like they have enhanced the simplicity of use for a variety of aspects of the smart phone. I will buy one when they come out.