Best Buy to trial launch Palm Pre on June 7th
Well lookie here. This one isn’t 100% confirmed just yet but a ninja hit us up with what could be some pretty juicy launch details for the rumor mill’s favorite handset du jour, the Palm Pre. Here we go — according to our ninja, Best Buy will be getting its hands on a limited inventory of Pre handsets for a trial launch on June 7th. Sprint will be direct-shipping the lot to arrive on the 6th and in total, about 4,500 units will be spread throughout Best Buy Mobile locations across the country. That might not seem like a lot, well, because it isn’t, but each and every Best Buy Mobile will be getting at least one Pre to hawk. Speaking of hawking, our ninja has some numbers to report as well. Pricing is supposedly still being discussed but the probable points are as follows: New customers with a 2-year contract, $199.99. Existing customer upgrades, $299.99. Outright, $999.99. Yes, seriously.
Cedric, there’s no need to insult those with differing opinion. You disclose that you’re no expert too because 4G is coming but they are in the process, not done yet, of making a maintenence contract not having them buildout. This is not meant to incite, just to have back and forth on opposing views w/o insults
@ Cedric
Um, dude, Palm was the first PDA. The Palm Pilot came out in 1996 and was the first handheld PDA.
Don Louie you seem to be in constant catfights and the center of flame/troll wars with people here. I am not.
James was using the term “hyperbole” against a prior post and his post was all opinion and hyperobole (he could “sell a 1000 Pre at $1,000″) mine was simply fact and all accurate.
From your prior posts and your comment on 4G I find you comment that I am “no “techie” to be nothing short of hilarious.
In the wireless industry Sprint has itself a policy of “less on the pipe more on the product” as an rational for spinning off control of its pipes and their development. I ti the most well known and fundamental shift in Sprint much ore important then train employees to be polite or the launch of Pre.
http://gigaom.com/2009/02/05/sprints-dumb-pipe-dream/
Fact: Sprint 4G has been in a three year stall. Announcements by Sprint that Sprint 4G it would be coast to cost by mid 2007 date back to 2006. What it has done is divest itself of more and more of its control over its network.
Cedric, I’m the one with 4g statement and still would like to know where it says Sony-Ericsson (the outsourcee) is doing anything more than managing tower maintenance
Please stop calling your sources “ninjas”, it’s an insult to real ninjas that have to kill people for a living.
Now that you pose as a Sprint supporter what’s the purpose of attacking other who share the views of the company you claim to have? Be consistent with your convictions if you want pass yourself off as me
Saturday Morning Cartoons are apparently not entertaining enough for your evil clone Mr. Canton.
Thanx for clearing that up
That wasn’t an apology. On top of using the wrong wong word, don’t tell you can’t recognize sarcasm? Now that Best Buy may or may/maynot have accessories maybe this could be ture, this all has a rumor tag but these rumors are like days apart on the same mystery phone which leads to believing there some truth it
Why is the new customers price cheaper than the existing customers who is ready to upgrade?
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I have been out of contract but still using Sprint for the past 3 years, under a plan they no longer offer. I have $150 credit towards an upgrade with a 2 yr contract, or a $75 credit available towards an upgrade with a one yr contract. If I do a 2 yr contract, and they only charge me $199 then they ohly get $50 from me for the phone. That is why existing upgrade customers will be required to pay $299, which will net Sprint $150, or new customers will pay $199 with a new contract. I think this is wrong since I have been a long-term Sprint customer and really should get the $150 benefit towards the phone, with the same phone cost as new customers.
I have been researching phones because my older phone battery will not hold a charge. I went to Best Buy this week to find a replacement battery. (Florida) They said they no longer carry Sprint phones and related assessory parts unless they are workable generics. So something is wrong with information in this article saying the Pre will be released or even sold at Best Buy.
@ sue, whatever Best Buy rep told you that is mistaken about them not selling Sprint or just lying. Best Buy started a different pricing structure w/the S30, if you’re out of contract and you talk to Account Services and get new customer price w/o worrying about the rebate
Best Buys phones have always been known to have higher prices when it comes to no contract. So everyone needs to stop getting so worked up and go to the sprint store to buy the phone. You can bet your life it will be adlease $400 cheaper without contract!
LMAO!!!!
why would you wanna go to Sprint instead of Best buy? you can skip the 100 mail in rebate, and just get it 100 bucks cheaper the day you buy it.
Ok so let me clear my throat. I happen to know not only the intimate working of sprint but also best buy, since i am one of the aforementioned Best Buy Mobile employees.
1. There is no release date set. I would know
2. WTF are you “loyal” sprint customers talking about? Anybody remember the original “iPhone killer” instinct? BB had those for a solid 1.5 months before any sprint store got them.And this isn’t privyed information, it was broad casted on every instinct commercial and Best Buy Commercial.
3. Diff bb’s have different carriers based solely on the availability of the carrier in any particular market, so saying one no longer has sprint does not mean they all don’t.
4. Sprint is closing alot of their standalone stores, and xferring their alotted supply to Best Buys. Because it is way cheaper to operate in a store that you do not have to pay for.
5. Therefore, new releases such as the instinct and pre will probably go to Best Buy anyway.
6. When alltel sold the first gen HTC Touch, it’s outright price at BBY was $999. At the corporate stores, it was even more.
7. Go to your local best buy, and thank them for taking 120 hours of training to be able to know what they are talking about.
BBYM is full of shit. Let’s go down the list…
1. BB is not going to know the release date before anyone else…much less a low level associate like yourself.
2. BB DID NOT have the Instinct 1.5 months before the Sprint stores (Corp, Indirect, or otherwise.).
3. New releases have not, and are not, going to BB first. Not to say that won’t happen in the future…but, your lying.
4. Actually, your “120 hours of training” is not all Sprint specific. I went to a BB Mobile, and the manager there knew less than I did….and, I’ve only done sales, service and repair for Sprint less than a year.
It’s amazing how much shit you people spew. You haven’t a clue what you’re talking about…especially the so-called “Boy Genius”. I guess any idiot can start a blog, huh? LOL
Ok Iggy simma down.
By the way I bought my Bold at Best Buy a few days before AT&T stores sold them.
Just sayin.
I totally disagree. Not everyone is an Apple d!ck rider, so MANY will go buy this device because it is simply the best phone experience available. The iPhone is tired, and appeals to the throngs of Apple users out there who would buy Dog sh!t if it had an Apple logo on it, but to many of us the Pre is a sure buy.
so here it is…BBYM will have the PRE for its release date!! And both Sprint stores AND BB are going to be on limited quantities!! AND the sprint store is always more than BB!! BB does not do mail in rebates…they are already cheaper and you don’t have to wait for any money to come back to you!! So why not go there first!!?? And to clarify….the person who said that they go through 21 hours of training is RIGHT!!! just becaus someone dosen’t know as much as a geek dosen’t mean they don’t know what they are doing!!! and they are also right about how some areas in the US do not sell sprint anymore or never did!! sprint is growing and changing…just like any other retailer!!
ummm and whoever said the launch date is the 7th (even the website) is wrong….it’s the 6th…tomorrow!!! look out!!
and the instinct WAS SOLD AT BB BEFORE THE SPRINT STORE!!!