Sprint responds to Verizon CEO’s comments concerning Palm Pre
Following some comments yesterday from Verizon Wireless CEO Lowell McAdam, the Internet exploded. The highlight of course was the un-revalation that Verizon would be adding the Palm Pre to it’s portfolio once Sprint’s exclusivity expires. The part that grabbed everyone’s attention was the time frame however: “six months or so.” Could Sprint’s Pre exclusivity really be expiring later this year? According to a Sprint spokesman, no:
We have the Pre through 2009.
Nice — short and to the point. So to clarify McAdam’s comments from yesterday, it looks like Verizon will be offering the Pre once 2010 rolls around in seven months and change. Can you hold out?
Thanks, fresh!
That’s just what Verizon said 6 or so months which brings it to Jan 10′. Verizon didn’t lie. Sprint said they would have it threw 09. Tells you how dumb sprint CEO is and why they are in the place they are in.
@mikemick i’m sorry i have big hands and type too fast. the only palm keyboards i’ve used are the treo pro’s and centro’s. both are too small in my opinion.
@Feech
I highly doubt that on 1-1-09 VZW and At&t launch the Pre. Palm still has to manufacture Pre’s for all the other countries that have already had formal announcements which Palm has confirmed before they make versions for At&t/VZW. We have known Sprint was getting this for 6 months and yet they only have 150k to 300k that will be available at launch? My guess is we see an announcement for VZW/At&t in January that they will be launching the Pre and/or Eos in the 1st half of 2010. The actual launch date depending on the supply just like it did with Sprint.
plus it was announced at ces in january and it took over 6 months to be released. it could be announced in january and not come out till april or may on att or vzw
@ lilcozyfab
Sprint can’t hold onto the Pre exclusivity because of one thing:
MONEY!
PALM needs the Pre to be available to as many people on all carriers as soon as possible. They make it Sprint exclusive for money, recognition, and demand…at first, and then WHAM, release it on all carriers…BEFORE Apple releases the iPhone on all carriers. Simply makes sense for them. They almost went bankrupt, so they need this thing to SELL. Having it only one carrier for a prolonged period of time can do more harm than good (exception = iPhone). But trust me, the Pre is no iPhone (in terms of public perception). Palm can’t get away with having the phone only on one carrier and think they can survive as a company, especially if Apple starts to push the iPhone onto multiple carriers. If that happens before the Pre comes to those carriers, consider Palm done.
Just to clarify…my previous post had no inclinations of stating the iPhone was better than the Pre, G1, or Storm. It is based on public perception. The only reason the Storm, G1, and Pre even have the popularity that they have is because the iPhone has been locked to AT&T for so long. If it was a six month contract, and then came to other carriers, the G1, Storm, and Pre would merely be afterthoughts (much like the Palm Treo Pro is now). However, people have preceptions and loyalties to carriers (ie: verizon is the best, sprint sucked in 2000, so they must suck now, AT&T is awful, blah blah blah). Therefore, these iPhone competitors have a niche market. Those who want the iPhone but do not want to switch to AT&T. Simple as that.
Joe is exactly right. Palm does not have the money or the fan base to do what Apple and RIM can and only offer a certain phone to one US carrier. Notice how much Palm’s stock has already gone up since At&t and VZW made their comments? Like you said this could cause Apple to consider not renewing their deal with At&t since they will be offer the Pre. Gotta’ love competition! I hope the Pre is on all the big carriers ASAP as that will being in more developers as well.
Maybe by the time the Pre goes to AT
*Maybe by the time the Pre goes to att and vzw, BG will have his review done. lol*
Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone) at: Tempe United States
6 months after Pre’s release date IS 2010.
So, Sprint can’t count the months of the year.
I for one am not going to wait in line for this thing. I would have given it a shot if Tele-sales or Sprint.com would carry it on launch day. I still find it hard to believe that they think the lines are going to be massive for this thing. Making it available on all channels would have allowed people to grab one without waiting online and thus activating new lines of service without the clusterfcuk that are Sprint Stores. Dumb move all around by Sprint on this one
@ Birthday
I think it is you that can’t count. If the phone released in July then it would be 6 months til 2010. June, July, August, September, October, November, December…count ‘em 7 months!
6 months after the Pre relase date of 6-6-09 would be 12-6-09.
My dad has verizon with unlimited calling, plus unlimited data for his blackberry. His monthly bill is $162. My mom has AT&T with an Iphone. 1400 minutes and data for $110 a month.
Im sticking with sprint. 5 year customer. $99 EVERYTHING plan. plus 15% customer loyalty discount. Thats a big savings. Never get a dropped call either. If you use alot of minutes why over pay??
What part of “6 months or so” don’t you get? Grow a fucking pair and stop being an apologist for carriers that don’t give a shit about you while you beg for more of their abuse.
What don’t you get about “6 months or so”? Grow a fucking pair and deal with the fact that carriers don’t give a shit about you. Why serve as apologists for them while you beg for more of their abuse?
After playing with the Pre, this thing is hardly revolutionary. Not enough to save the company.
Couple of things, Verizon does not have a contract with Palm regarding the Pre, in fact Verizon cannot negotiate a contract until Sprints expires. However, if the Pre does well on Sprint, you can bet Sprint will extend the contract, especially since Sprint was the only carrier willing to take the risk with the Pre. Let’s say Sprint does not extend the contract after the 6 month exclusive expires, due to network branding and negotiations it could take another 3 to 6 months before you see the crippled version on Verizon. The US is not the only market for the Pre, Canada is getting a CDMA Version this year then Europe will get the GSM version. So this idea that Palm needs more US carriers to survive, does not hold water.
Verizon you can suck it!!!! By the time they have the Palm Pre something newer and even more exciting will be available.
@ jw
“After playing with my pee-pee, this little thing is hardly revolutionary. Not enough to save the company.”
There I fixed it for you!
@Informed….Couldn’t have said it better myself!!!
I hope Sprint extends their contract and keeps the Pre exclusive, as their flagship unit. Keep the international carriers in the game and let AT&T and Verizon squirm a bit. Sprint has worked hard, with Palm to get back in the game and are very well going to do it with this phone.
Sprint is a fucking idiot. Releasing that statement was pointless. VZW Ceo said 6 months or so. Which would mean 2010 dumb ass. They just got scared. Sprint is trash, the service is terrible. I’m sorry I need to be able to make a call without it dropping consistently. Yes Verizon likes to cripple some of their phones but I believe they are improving and they won’t touch the Pre. Spring compared to Verizon is a joke.
@ Sonya
NEWS FLASH!!! Sprint and Verizon have identical networks, in fact, recent network testing between the US carriers has shown that Sprint is either tied with Verizon or exceeding Verizon. Sprints mobile broadband is the best. Stop being an ignoramus.
@Sonya
If that is the case why didn’t McAdam’s just say we will be releasing the Pre in January of 2010?…maybe because 6 months or so sounds a lot better considering it’s the end May 09 right now. What part of corporate CEO talk do you not understand? He gave you what everyone wanted to hear and that is the Pre will be on VZW at some point in 2010 because he wants to keep as many current subs from jumping ship as possible. He is a business man that wants to make money and keep the stock holds happy. They will tell you what ever they think will keep you as a customer.
Also what Sprint phone did you have that dropped calls all the time and how long ago was this? Just curious since I have no such issues.
Whaaaaaaaaaaaat? @WOW comment
Sprint network similar to Verizon? if similar is 30% of the size then it is correct.
We all know Big Red has the best network across America, however it is true that they will definitely cripple the Palm Pre in the same manner they cripple most of their phones in their inventory.
Sprint will eventually disappear (either bankruptcy or will be bought).
Sprint had to say something regarding McAdam’s statement. VZW & AT&T had to say something just in case they had subs who were thinking of changing carriers. As of now, neither VZW or AT&T have a deal with Palm for the Pre. Right now if you want it, its on Sprint. No one knows the “language” in the contract. I’m sure Sprint would want to extend the deal if the Pre sells like crazy. Its in their best interest to do so if it sells well.
I’m just off CrapT&T for Sprint