Ever since the Pre was unveiled at CES people have been puzzled by Palm's naming decision. Sure, "webOS" made sense in a broad perspective, but "Pre" seemed really out of place. And unfortunately for us Palm-fans, that has sometimes made us the butt of some bad "Pre"-puns (you know who you are).
Not too long ago, Palm's very own Matt Crowley was answering questions on Facebook. Among his many, mostly informative posts, was this small tidbit on the meaning behind the name:
The "Pre" name came from the basic idea of anticipating your needs. It is not about the phone correcting things that it thinks you did wrong. That can be really annoying. The concept is more around providing the information you may need at the point where it is most convenient.
And that was all we had to go on. It was a short and sweet explanation, but worked. Well, recently it was uncovered that Palm hired Catchword Branding to come up with the name of their new smartphone. They've outlined the painstaking progress that lead them to "Pre" on their blog, though only lightly touched on the meaning of it. For that, they sent MobileMag an email detailing the thought behind the name "Pre":
For starters, the name is a short, single syllable, word that pairs very nicely with the Palm company name. And, of course, because it begins with a "P" it's alliterative. Palm Pre just rolls off the tongue.
In addition, it makes use of an accented "e", which is consistent with other products in the Palm portfolio, including the Treo (and the Foleo), which also makes use of an accented "e". The accent is also a really nice device for distinguishing the name visually in the market.
The messaging communicated in the name is intentionally broad in order to avoid pigeonholing and the suggestion of a specific *type* of phone (e.g. text phone, music phone, camera phone, etc). General associations with setting a new PREcedent, and the implication of things to come were of course intentional. You get a bit of redefining what it means to be a smartphone. And maybe you get a little speed and efficiency from the name if you're taken to Prix as in Grand Prix.
Lastly, and this is really important, the name doesn't try to out "cool" all the other phones in the space. It's not a "Dare" or a "Decoy" or a "Sway" or a "Juke" or a "Mirage" or whatever. Pre is more understated and allows the phone itself to take center stage. And right it should, it's an amazing phone. You don't buy this phone because it sounds cool - you buy this phone because it IS cool!
Knowing all that really quite beautifully justifies its name. And thinking back, I never really remembered the Pre because of a snappy name, but by how incredible the device itself was. In that sense, "Pre" works really nicely. It's really just a matter of time until the name sinks in for good, then we can get back to business and stop with all horrible pre-release puns.
[via PalmGoon]
Comments
I have to say I'm underwhelmed by the choice of Pre as a name. Their thinking, as outlined here, does all makes sense. However, to my ear, it's a near miss. And although some will say it's too much like Dare/Decoy/Sway/Juke/Mirage/et al, I'd like to have seen them all it the Synergy. Less important to name the concept than the device, IMO, and they could have picked something else for the concept anyway.
That said, I'll still be at the head of the line to get the phone, whenever Palm decides to actually release it...
That should be "call" it the Synergy...
Wow. Sounds like sin-Orgy. Your contacts will never see you the same after this. Oh and combine that with Push services and...ok...I'll stop.
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I have no problem with the name. I kind of like it and so far everything else about it.
What a load. As if a cool name would detract from the phone, itself.
They could've chosen a name that's cool, but quite different from the existing themes.
Of course, they never mentioned that "Pre" is just about the least Google-able name they could've chosen. How practical is THAT?
It was very practical - when you Google "pre" the first site that comes up is Palm's Pre site. It works out great!
I can't call it. At first, Pre didn't show up unless one also searched for "Palm Pre."
Oh well.
Why is this site ripping off a story from mypre.com ? I expect to see news stories replicated from blog to blog.. that's the nature of this medium.. but a story on "Why Pre?" isn't exactly a press release.. and mypre.com had it posted a day earlier.
I wrote this post.
1) I was tipped off via a friend on twitter who linked the mobilemag article directly. I just asked him where he got it from. He replied he found out about the story from PalmGoon's twitter linking to PalmGoon's article on the story. I was merely acting on a tip from a friend and gave credit and linked as necessary. I have the utmost respect for MyPre, but I did not steal from them.
2) As you can see from #1, the nature of the blogosphere sends the news from site to site. And it appears MyPre was doing the same thing I was doing, reporting on a story. I could see you maybe getting mad if MyPre was the one who got contacted by Catchword with the story and if we directly copied the story with no credit, but that is the complete opposite of what happened.
It's articles like this that make it hard to wait another minute for the Pre to be available. And I'm sorry, but there is no way anyone is going to be ahead of me in line at the Palm Store when release date rolls around, well unless my laptop battery has died keeping me from writing new PreApps while I'm in line. Think they'll be willing to run an extension cord out the door for us in line overnight? I'd get in line now, but, um I have plans in May.
I'm in the wrong business. I should open up a brand/slogan business. No doubt these guys made over a 100k easy for coming up with Pre.
I know here in Louisville, the University of Louisville spent over 200k for someone to come up with...It's Happening Here. LOL
State of KY paid 650k for Unbridled Spirit.
City of Louisville has a contract with someone for 2.5 million to develop and market a brand. Louisville: Possibility City
Ughhh...
so why don't you guys show the good behavior and start writing pré instead of pre in your posts?
and to google it, just search for "palm pre" easy as the ocean
it's prē not pré
So Crowley was just making it up,
Blah, blah, blah! "Prē' is a horrible name. It is sad if anyone got paid to come up with it. Heck, I think Prēo is better. At least you are banking on prior market presence. (Unless, of course, you are running from the bad press you created for yourself for NOT SUPPORTING THE 700P!)
Prē is too close to Pro. Too confusing for simple minds.
I wonder if Mojo was available?
Hey, dude, you got your Mojo going?
OK, so I won't get rich of that one, either...
It is close to Pro for a reason. "Pro" is one step up for the Professional and business user, "Pre" one step back to the average consumer, a starter smartphone for the average Joe...
Sounds like a perfectly sensible set of names for a product line.
People, it's a freaking name. Who gives a _uck about the name!!!! I just want the phone and it to work properly. Like iPhone or Storm are good names.
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