It's hard to say what changed between
May 20th and today (any ideas,
Verizon /
AT&T?), but it seems that Sprint's tone on the impending
Pre launch has shifted just a bit. In a new report over at
Bits, we're told that both Sprint and Palm are informing the public to not expect lengthy lines on launch day. Naturally, both firms are spinning this like it's a good thing, with Palm's Lynn Fox proclaiming that "[Palm's] not like Apple." Mark Elliott, a spokesman for Sprint, even went so far as to say that it was actually attempting to "manage the exact opposite" of long lines, noting that Sprint wanted "each customer to get the experience" rather than being rushed in and out. Honestly, the spin factor was most obvious when he outed this line: "[Success] is not about having a line out the door; it's about being able to treat each customer and make sure they're happy with their decision." Alrighty then.
[Image courtesy of
IDR]
posted Jun 4th 2009 12:22PM
slow and steady wins the race?
I don't know about winning but Pre should have some sort of success. It all depends on how Palm will back their phones up.
Darren Murph just hates Sprint. ;)
slow and dead sounds better
just like the iPod
you can't out iPhone the iPhone
Yeah there's not going to be lines because they are going to sell out quick according to the Best Buy stock of less then 10 per store.
@tkandme3
"Get a life... Get an iPhone."
I know you iFans need to really go 200% douche for this one, but that was really pretty pathetic even for you. You aren't even really trying to hide the mass trolling/flamming attempt over this device.
Apparently your already weak ego that requires you to live through your Apple logo, must be really be at a low ebb over the Pre.
At the moment they are trying to re-invent the company (the same thing Apple did with the Think Different campaign and the designs of their products). Palm needs to make users see that they have style, that their products "just work" and that they make devices which are fun to use. Once Palm manages to do this I wouldn't be surprised if lines did start forming for its products, if they do become a Luxury brand which people will buy to show off their individualism despite everybody also buying the same phone.. like Apple, in the end, if they are successful they will have their own online supporters who will blindly defend them.
Ah Look_Around_You, try not to foam at the mouth too much. It's embarrassing. Windows Mobile 6.5 (from Microsoft!) and its "revolutionary" honeycomb interface will be here soon enough to save you from your misery. *snicker*
Astroturf Different.
Nice one, Quix!
I think they're banking on big enterprise contracts to make the nut. They're clearly going after WM and Blackberry for their primary competition. I think that's who they've had their eyes set on this entire time. It is fun baiting the Apple fanboys, though. They're such a delicate crew.
I strongly suspect that it has something to do with them not being able to produce enough units to satisfy initial demand.
So instead of having loads of people turn up and virtually none of them walk away with a new phone, they're trying to encourage people to be in no rush. As, if people do think there's going to be a shortage, they'll be rushing through the doors as soon as they open, exacerbating the situation even more.
Way to face the facts Palm! After all noone at Palm expected Apple to be releasing a new version of the OS with a new version of the hardware only a week after the Pre launches. Palm was really hoping that people with expiring AT&T contracts would switch over to Pre but this is not likely to ever happen. You see Sprint sux monkey balls and people generally like what they're used to ( as far as hardware goes ). Also what Palm failed to see is that both Nokia and MS will launch an app store and while Palm has a dozen or so apps at launch both Nokia and MS have considerably more. So yeah Palm should scale down their expectations and delusions of grander. The Pre is nice but what made the iPhone great is hardly just fast hardware and pretty pictures.
@Fernando
Have you heard of a Sprint store? Bestbuy/Radioshack are the 3rd party retailers, the vast majority of the Pre's sales will be from Sprint stores.
@Tkandme3
Your right.. The iPhone is vastly superior.. thank god they are the number 1 selling smartphone..
Oh wait.. RIM outsells Apple in smartphones ?!?!? Damn..
@cg0def
Are you serious? I do not know how many times someone has to say, "there will not be a new OS for the iphone, 3.0 is an update." Also, this "alleged" new CPU, will be the same CPU in the iphone 3G which is under clocked to 400MHz. The max of that CPU is 600MHz, again, it will be the same CPU in the next "alleged" iphone. Apple will unlock the CPU up to it's max. Many analyst have said not to expect drastic changes in the next "alleged" iphone.
at my store weve had so many calls about the pre... we were given less than 10 to sell this saturday... good luck if you really want one...
Soulja Boy Tell Em!
YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!
-------------------------------------------------------------------
I'll blame the lack of interest in the Pre to marketing! Where the heck was it??
My roommate is a regular guy, work 9-5 in an IT company and he's with Sprint (been with them for 8 years). And if it wasn't for me babbling on-n-on about the phone...he wouldn't even have known. Where as EVERYONE and their uncle knew about the iPhone 1st G and it's launch.
Good call. The Pre really is a cool little phone, at LEAST as good as the first gen iPhone was, yet NO ONE knows about it outside of the internet blogosphere. Marketing definitely has something to do with it but you can't say Palm didn't try. They've obviously got a few tech blogs in their pockets (*cough* Engadget), they've got it on Digg multiple times, and even a spotlight with Fallon's late night talk show but for some reason it just never caught on with the general public. This close to the first gen iPhone's launch, huge lines were forming at every Apple store throughout the country and it was being covered by every media outlet on a daily basis.
Has Sprint/Palm/Engadget said anything of online availability? On the Sprint website it says "Exclusively available at Sprint retailers June 6th" which leads to me to believe its store only for now.
apple's marketing team is, well, incredible. i don't understand how they do it. i mean they had regular people calling the iphone the "jesus phone" for crap's sake. their marketing team is probably apple's biggest asset.
maveric101: Completely agree. Apple is about the marketing, then the technology.
beautiful but simple and basic product + huge and effective marketing = profit.
Thanks Engadget for making such clear statements!
pfff
Good let them thing their wont be a line, will better for the rest of us.
Good, let them think there won't be a line, better for the rest of us.
*facepalm
It's alright you'll be able to trade in that touch keyboard for a tactile one shortly. ;-)
I've been lucky enough to have one reserved, at my local Sprint store, which got 14, the local BB has 3. Yesterday, I got to play with the stores demo unit for 20 mins. The thing is SO sweet! The screen is stunning, web pages load quickly, videos look amazing, and the keyboard works like a charm.
...and as a phone, well, it feels good in your hand and sounds great, call quality was stellar. (left myself a message on my Centro's voicemail, to check later) Stereo bluetooth headset support worked like a charm and sounded great. I loved being able to plug my headphones from my iPod without a stupid adapter, as well.
Haven't been this excited about a new phone since getting my 1st Treo (650) But, the Pre takes it to a whole new level.
Realistic expectations ≠ spin
Agreed. Expecting shortages and expecting stupid long lines aren't the same. Sprint stores aren't the only ones selling the phone, right?
@ DP:
Radioshack's selling them. But don't expect any in Northern California - Cell phone sales are higher in SoCal, so expect some in the LA region or thereabouts.
I'm in line right now. There are 5 of us here.. I'm having a great time.
Unless you have some funmaker in a paper bag right now, you are lying.
Well... YOU are a L-O-S-E-R
@John
What store are you at? I was going to take a drive by a few local stores tomorrow night to see if any others where out there yet.
If there are no lines, it's not for a lack of trying on Engadget's part.
Engadget and Pre,
Up in a tree,
K-I-S-S-I-N-G ...
If there are no lines of a weak sales it will be due to Palm having dragged on the launch of the device for too long. The candle of the Pre is burning out now, especially when Engadget and Gizmodo's review has highlighted some quality issues with the device.
Most importantly, the device should have been launched in April to be a hit, but instead Palm has picked a horrible date to ship the device out to the stores -- two days before Apple present their third iteration of the iPhone. I mean, what were they thinking? They had the chance to shine during the spring when a new iPhone was distant but now when it's a few days away from public unveiling, all the early adopters will be holding on to their money to money in wait and anticipation for what Apple has to offer. I'm not an Apple fanboy by any means and I'm all for competition, hell I have a Zune80 but Palm's timing is simply poor. And manufacturers should stop unveiling phones 6 months ahead of launch because the phone often just end up looking ordinary when it hits the store.
@Homeboy: I disagree. With all of it.
@homeboy That's just nonsense.
No matter when anyone launches anything, some dipstick will show up to point out some Apple event, and tell us how "bad" the timing is.
Macworld
WWDC
Back-to-school
Christmas
It's the same old song and dance that somehow a company NEEDS to time their product around Apple, as if people are just so stupid that they cant evaluate products side by side and come up with a purchasing decision on their own. Maybe this is the case for teens and nerds online, but most people have the tendency to test and use a variety of devices before they settle.
If Palm sell out the initial stock of Pre phones, no matter the size, they can be assured that it will be noted in the press. On top of that, people will be seen with them. Folks will ask about them, and buzz will develop. Palm can run the ads at their own pace.
It's not like everyone's contracts end at the same time, and Apple is the one that has to keep the hype machine at 100% 24/7 or they look bad. Palm needs to keep it at 50% and rise it up slowly.
Look_Around_You
According to your list, Apple has all four quarters of the year tied up for phone launches. Macworld, WWDC, Back-to-school and Christmas.
The Pre will be a success and the generation of the phone will be even better.
But when the first NVIDIA® Tegra™ based phone is released, watch out Apple and Palm.
Look_around_you: Apple is a part of Palm's external environment and is a very important competitor and I don't need to tell you what an impact the iPhone has had on the cellphone market. In isolation the Palm-Pre is a highly innovative phone that should be on everybody's radar, but evidently the mass will compare it to what ever Apple has in their stores. And it's the very mass that has the power to rescue companies like Palm by clearing out their inventory.
The Pre stood all alone in the lime light when it was presented a few months ago and that should have been the time to sell it, everybody was starstruck and everyone wanted it -- but it was nowhere in the shop. As much as you might hate it, all the eyes of the world will be on the iPhone next week and Palm will have lost a golden opportunity to make a huge splash because people will be comparing it to the unofficial benchmark of touch screen phones, the iPhone. It's the sad reality I'm afraid
@ Look_Around_You: it's not Apple's fault Windows Mobile sucks. Can't you vent your Microsoft-induced rage elsewhere? Your constant anti-Apple tirades grow tiresome.
"According to your list, Apple has all four quarters of the year tied up for phone launches. Macworld, WWDC, Back-to-school and Christmas."
That's pretty much how it's always presented by Apple's fans. You apparently cant launch a product based on some Apple press rally. It's never based on the merit of the device or service, it's just that Apple gonna say somthing.
Companies should just completely ignore their press stunts and launch/announce when they see fit.
If tech blogs and fanboys get pissy that it's getting in the way of an Apple show, then oh well!
@ Look_Around_You: it's not Apple's fault Windows Mobile sucks. Can't you vent your Microsoft-induced rage elsewhere? Your constant anti-Apple tirades grow tiresome."
Yeah, because everyday I tell people that Apple's products suck and that you should never ever buy anything from them, and instead should buy from company X, right?
Have fun finding the post where I do that.
That is the type of garbage you and you fanboy friends peddle in. Engadget has to contract out for all of the "low ranked" signs that have to waste on you clowns.
Look_Around_You, your comment history is the very epitome of fanboyism.
Self-reflection. Try it sometime.
Look_Around_You, your comment history is the very epitome of fanboyism.
Ok, since you are such an expert of me, give some examples of this.
But I believe that your posting history is a better study in that. Although I'm sure you will lie and say otherwise, or likely not respond at all.
How the hell did Chapel get a highly ranked post in a non Apple article??
What the hell is wrong with you people?
@greggo:
The title of the article itself is a beacon to ifanboys to get in their iToldYaSo's. If they truly felt the Pre was no threat and beneath notice, they would not be trolling pre forums and desperately trying to influence opinion.
Pundits heavily favored the PS3 to be the dominant console of this generation because of the PS2's "unstoppable" market share and the prodigious horsepower of the device. They were wrong. I point this out not to say that the iPhone/Pre situation is identical, but to make the point that past performance is not a guarantee of future success, and the mighty do fall. What has kept me from buying an iPhone is AT&T service and the plan costs.
Personally, I think that the Pre strikes a nice balance between the entertainment capabilities of the iPhone and the business utilitarianism of a blackberry. It will have some kinks as all 1st gen products do. It's nice to see Palm back on the cutting edge. We'll see how things shake down.
there are a ton of people on sprint that have been waiting for this phone and will buy it because there are no better options. a huge majority of this country is locked into some kind of contract that doesn't allow for switching carriers on a whim...sure there is the g1 on t-mobile and the iphone on att, but that doesnt help me if i signed a 2 yr contract with sprint last year or if i don't read tech blogs on a basis
@sweet greggo
"How the hell did Chapel get a highly ranked post in a non Apple article?? "
I know. And I posted in agreement with him.
I think I just threw-up in my mouth a little bit.
Homeboy is absolutely right. The Pre would've been a bigger hit had it launched months earlier. In business and marketing, timing is everything. Does anyone in here really think that Palm's decision to sell the Pre 2 days before WWDC was an accident? Obviously, that was the best they could do from an engineering standpoint, but without that limitation, Palm would have sold the Pre months ago. If Apple announces the new iPhone at WWDC with even half the rumored upgrades, then I see trouble for Palm. I think it'll do well out of the gates like Android, simply because of the novelty factor, but I don't think it offers enough to stall the current gen iPhone's success, let alone the next gen.
Who doesn't love the wonderful experience you get at a cell phone provider's store? I go hang out at the local Verizon, T-Mobile, ATT and Sprint stores once each per month. The ambiance keeps me coming back.
I'm not sure if you're being sarcastic, or not. Either way there are some Sprint stores that I do visit whenever I'm walking by. But there are other reasons than the phones for those visits.
"I'm not sure if you're being sarcastic, or not."
...
Not quite as nice as being mobbed by the overeager slicksters that man the TWO HUNDRED cell phone sales carts in every mall.
"Psst, hey buddy...you a Verizon subscriber?"
If the carriers would cut loose some of their ridiculously-overstaffed army of sales dweebs, they could reduce my rates.
From what I remember Palm doesn't have the supply to meet initial demand. My friend who works at Best Buy said that most of their stores will get 3-4 Palm Pre phones. I believe they are going to start marketing the phone a lot more to the general public 3 months from now when they have more supply.
See, the hype is all but gone already and the phone has yet to be released. The phone is not going to be any more popular than any other Blackberry or WinMo device and having one will not win you any more respect or garner any oohhs or aahhs from anyone that you may show it to. It may be a really great device for certain individuals but not worth 90% of the hype that it received and really does have flaws, such as the slider or tiny keyboard, or the fact it is tied to a crappy service provider. So Palm fanboys say what you want, this will not be the phone to save Palm or herald in a new day for mobile devices. Just another "decent" phone with no real impact whatsoever.
I see great things in store for this comment.
Aaaa-aaaaaah, we fade to grey.
I really don't understand you people and bashing Sprint. 1. It's really fast. I load pages and send pictures etc faster than any of my friends with other carriers and I've rarely ever dropped a call in the past 8 years of having Sprint. 2. It's cheaper...if you don't believe me even read Engadget's review and near the end they compare pricing.
Given every carrier has their dead spots, but 9/10 times the places I've been Sprint either out performs or is the only service in the area. Even when I used to live in the hill country I had service where others didn't. Just because Sprint lost so many subscribers last year doesn't mean their network is shitty. Their customer service sucked but it has come a long way since.
I agree.
This will get the same attention span as Android.. all this iPhone killer nonsense blah blah blah... and silently fade to dwindling sales.
C'mon, we all know the Pre is going to get crushed.. talk about avoiding the elephant in the room.
@landon
The reason your Sprint phone is fast and no dropped calls is because NOBODY IS ON THE DAMN NETWORK. Lol. So you have much better results. Now, tack on a few extra million people, you will have a different story. Nuff said.
Yeah I don't know, that's partly right but after being with them for 8 years I can't complain. Maybe I'm just one of the lucky ones whatever. Still, even if you make that argument Sprints service is still cheaper. Nuff said.
@absolutc,
And what is exactly wrong with a network with better quality, cheaper prices, and fewer users? I don't quite follow your logic there.
The Pre seems like a really nice little phone, and WebOS has a lot of promise.
But there's a reason why there's little hype, and that's only partially due to insufficient marketing. At this point, a glitzy looking GUI controlled by capacitance touchscreen plus app store is no longer new. It can still succeed, for all I know it is better than the new iPhone that's coming out along with iPhone OS 3.0. But there's little for the press to latch onto and pitch to their customers (the media-consuming audience.) So the only angle then becomes "Is this the iPhone kiler?"
One thing that may be an issue for some is you have to sign up for their “everything plans” if you want the Pre. So if I want a family plan with me on a Pre and my wife and kid on a basic phone you have to pay almost $300/m whereas on other carries you just add data to a plan for the phone you want.
No you dont. Sprint specifically said that it is not forcing you onto any special plan and that all it asks is that you chose unlimited data as the nature of the phone is to be forever online.
on what plan is this? The unlimited plans? If you need 3 lines on your account you can go with a 1500 or 3000 minute data share plan, neither of which come even close to $300. If your wife and kid are on a basic phone, why are you sticking them under an unlimited plan to begin with? And even if they did have usage on their phone where that was necessary, it's still cheaper than the other carriers by quite a bit.
Yep, I have to leave a family plan, because of this. Everyone else will still have basic phones.
No, $300 would only be if you wanted unlimited talk. The Pre is also compatible with the Everything Data Family plan which would be $150/mo for 3 lines, 1500 anytime minutes, 7pm N&W, unlimited data/text/navigation/mobile-mobile/N&W.
really? i didnt know that haha, (sticking with my iPhone either way) but i would think i would have heard a lot of complaints from that already... so everyone absolutely has to get that plan????????
You do know that with the unlimited everything plans you can just add a new line for 19.99, i know that on my plan, the second line is free. I happen to be on the Unlimited Everything Plan with 1500 minutes. I gotta say I actually love it and that I've never had a problem with Sprint yet. I will be buying the Pre on day one as well =]
@weems, the reason you don't hear that many complaints is because AT&T is still more expensive.
Didn't know about the Everything Data Family thought the online help just said the unlimited. I'd have to check the numbers but I'm pretty sure I can still get 2 iphones and one regular phone (if I wanted it) through AT&T's premier system for less. Its fewer minutes but we don't use that many anyway.
Just seems odd that you can't choose a basic family plan and add a data package, would make it more flexible for people.
I think all you people should just ask someone WHO KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON.
Like maybe - visit a Sprint store early next week? instead of bailing on giving a phone a chance because some guy online doesn't know how to do math or read an Engadget review...
And apparently 100 very vocal Sprint customers got the same 3 tech support idiots 3 years ago so their tech support is (obviously) crap. So go to a physical store maybe?
Ran the numbers:
$150/mo on Sprint with 1500 minutes that I'll never use for 2 Pre's and a regular phone
$113.48/mo on AT&T for 2 iPhones and a regular phone with 550/mins (premier)
$139/mo on Verizon 2 Blackberry Curves and a regular phone 700/mins guessing if verizon gets the Pre it will be similar pricing for plans
Sprint needs to offer it with other plans and ala carte data.
How do you pick "premier" pricing when building out a NEW plan on ATT?
As I see it on their website: 2 iPhones > 59.99 (Fam Talk 550) + 30.00 (Fam Text) + 60.00 (iPhone Data Plan (30.00x2)) = $149.99
NOTE: When building out the Family plan, the ordering system didn't allow me to select a second iPhone.
As I see it on Sprint : Everything Data Family: 1500 mins, Data, Text, Navigation, M2M, Nights @ 7pm, Sprint TV/Music = $129.99
Sprint is right off the bat pricing, no "special pricing" or discounts. Adding a third line would only be 19.99 ($149.98), still cheaper than ATT with more minutes and features per line.
After loyalty discounts, my bill for Everything Data Family 3000 comes to ~ $235 (inc. insurance on all phones) for 5 lines.
You need to work for a company or agency that has an agreement with AT&T (basically 15% off on plans and some discounts on certain phones. I was able to add two iPhones to a basic 550 mins per month family/group plan.
Winds up being only $88/mo if I just get the iphone. I'll be watching for the new iPhone on Monday, hopefully it won't take too long to become available although I do like the Pre from what I've seen.
I may wait to see if the Sprint exclusivity is fairy short.
When it's available with my carrier I'll.
Seems AllTell / Verizon are kinda low on the totem pole of smart phones.
I think we can get some crackberries?
Kinda want something i can program for, dangit!
I'm sure they wouldn't mind the long lines and publicity if it happened
Of course they wont have long lines...who'd wait in a long line if they are only going to sell 5 phones per store?
yeah, I'm sure every store in the nation is only going to sell 5 phones each. Cool guy alert over here!
Yup, I even heard some stores are going to get 0...seriously I'd just stay in my room if I were you.
So when the new iPhone launches and Walmart gets a small number of units on release day (if any) you'll pace around your house crying instead of going to the ATT store down the street?
yeah, ok....
1. Lines for cell phones are dumb.
2. If you find yourself in line for a cell phone, you're not dumb, you're a fucking idiot.
agreed
Exactly.
What good comes from wild lines?
PO'd customers?
System breakdowns?
Photos of underemployed persons sitting in lawn chairs at a stripmall?
Somehow tech blogs have SPUN that as a sign of a successful product.
Going bck to the Windows95 launch, it was always a stupid thing. fluff fodder for your local news programs to go on a pun offensive.
"People lined up in the PRE dawn to get hold of Palm's newest phone!"
^ sweet greggo: never owned a cell phone worth waiting in line for.
Samsung Instinct. *snicker*
@Quix:
That's because there aren't any. Don't tell me... you're one of the brainless dipshits that stood in line for an iPhone for 2 days just for the "experience", when all you had to do was walk in the door an hour after open and get one with no waiting. Sounds like our country's future is in good hands.
Wild lines mean nothing. It's sales that matter.
Apart from cocaine that is.
If you need a phone to make you feel cooler or to "garner oohhs or aahhs from anyone that you may show it to".....you are a sad individual.
Turns out supply will in fact meet demand. Both will be incredibly low. Ha.
I'm not a Palm-hater, but I just love how much the Palm execs talked this phone up, and now it costs the same as the iPhone (contrary to an exec's statements) and now will have none of the media hype of the iPhone.
also....@sitruc - this is indeed spin. Sprint would LOVE long lines outside their stores. Who the hell wouldn't want news cameras and all that free publicity? Customer service my a$$. Why do you think they are limiting units at Best Buy? The answer is they are focusing on units at Sprint stores to try and create crowds.
Limiting units? I have you seen say San Antonio's BB counts? We're supposed to get something like 300 here. :)
[-]
ninja636z
I haven't heard of a Palm Fanboy, but you are making one.... i must say Fanboyism has always been with apple.. because they needs ppl like you to survive.. Iphone is a beautiful phone.. but remember Pre has some advantages too.. that apple ain't gonna bring soon lol
Lines or not, if they sell the amount they planned to, even if it's much less than the iphone, it's still a win.
OH NO! a narshlob's got the striped yellow tee guy! quick, grab on to our tongues
Seems like Palm doesn't have the time or money to produce these things in high volumes. They probably just wanted to get this thing out before the iPhone... what the point of releasing a tiny trickle now with no marketing other than to try and steal the iPhone 3.0 thunder?
I was at a sprint store yesterday asking them about the pre (hoping to get my hands on it) I was told sprint only has 350,000 phones at launch. Telling people that they don't expect lines may be a way of saying don't try to buy this phone right away because we want to avoid the bad press of not having enough inventory.
Just a thought. Personally I won't be buying one until after Apple shows their goods.
I think 350,000 is about right, if not pretty generous. Apple sold 250k in their first week or so - a number nobdoy is expecting Palm to approach. 350k is plenty supply. I bet if you get to a Sprint store this weekend you'll probably walk out with a Pre.
What is this for sh**t this is the lamest excuse I have ever heard palm and sprint we all know you are just so f**king jealous at apples achievement. Just because they cannot achieve what apple has done. Treat each customer with respect? Oh well all the people who bought an Iphone didn't need to get talked into buying it low life company. And now I expect all the fanboys to rank me down because I apparently thing that I am cooler than the rest because I own apple products.