Debunk: Palm not halting Pre / Pixi production, just on hold for Chinese New Year

Oh boy. Research firm OTR Global is making some waves today with a report claiming that Palm ordered all Pre and Pixi manufacturing to be halted, but apparently they didn't look at a calendar -- or, you know, call Palm. We just talked to Palm and here's the real deal: Pre and Pixi orders were halted for the Chinese New Year on the 14th, and production will go back online at the end of the month. That's the whole story -- Palm also told us that production for Verizon was ramped up early in the year to cover the downtime, so there shouldn't be any effect on availability. We'll be getting an official statement soon, we'll update as soon as we get it.

Update: Here's the official word from Derick Mains, Palm's director of corporate communications:

Palm regularly adjusts its product manufacturing levels to manage inventory. In anticipation of the Verizon Wireless launch and Chinese New Year, we increased production levels prior to February, and anticipate ramping production back up after the Chinese New Year ends.

Move along, nothing else to see here.

[ComradeArmona Posted Feb 11th 2010 4:32PM]

@madmac
successful troll is successful

[Kyusaku Posted Feb 11th 2010 4:46PM]

Engadget should have a Palm rep guest on Engadget show! Preferably this month because of 1.4 coming out this month and PDK next month!

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 11th 2010 5:20PM]

Netcraft confirms it, Palm is dying.

[reas0n555 Posted Feb 11th 2010 6:10PM]

Palm hasn't given us t-mobile users and love since the treo 600,c'mon palm come back.

[derekdevine Posted Feb 11th 2010 6:46PM]

Palm gave them the day off for Chinese New Year?

[Al Jeffers Posted Feb 11th 2010 11:40PM]

The competitiveness of the tech blog world caused BGR to let the scoop trump logic. A true halt in production by Palm just doesn't make sense given their recent advertising campaign pushing the pre as the smartphone for the moms of the network. Something truly earth shattering would have to happen for this story to make sense. BGR followed a report first ask questions later mentality here. They were burned because of it.

[pcfishhk Posted Feb 12th 2010 10:28AM]

So much "Global" and "Research" for the Research firm OTR Global.

[Freakin Ijit Posted Feb 25th 2010 12:42PM]

Now we know the REAL truth, huh?

"Debunked" my ass.