Update: A friend of Spunks3 in our forums sent in the above in-store shot. That's how you leak a Pre photo, Sprint employees: without your face in the photo.
A number of Sprint Employees have tipped us that the Palm Pre Advocate units have arrived in stores - for really real. These are the one-per-store units assigned to an employee who will be the Pre expert for that location -- the Advocate. We've already heard from one Sprint Employee's impressions on the keyboard, now we have that and a lot more.
First off, the phone is as small as we've reported, it "feels like pure sex in the hand." Ahem. We have corroboration that the keyboard does in fact feel on the small side: "definitely a cross between a Centro and a Treo Pro keyboard." The webOS is "amazing" and "responsive."
Basically, nothing you didn't already know -- but it does mean we are getting Very Close to some sort of real release date. As for when that is, not even the advocates know for sure, but that June 5th - June 7th weekend apparently is preceded by a couple days of mandatory manager training.
In other news, Sprint is also in the process of upgrading their customer service website, as discussed in our forums. It doesn't appear there's a Pre angle on the sporadic downtime, but if you need to manage your account and can't get in you'll need to call in.
Thanks tipsters!
Comments
Another step forward! Any mention of Wimax in the system settings?
Man, I wish that indirect dealers had advocates, because it would be me, lol.
i'm an indirect dealer, and i'm getting one on the advocate program. we're a preferred retailer maybe that's the difference?
Hmm, I don't know. I thought we were, maybe not idk I know we're an authorized representative...
Im indirect and was an i9 advocate... Talk to your IAE!
I just emailed her, thanks man
YES! This is good news. I hope stuff we dont already know about software and hardware start leaking. I'd love Wimax to be on it.
Wimax is not on it. Also WiMax is only available in 1 or 2 markets now, it has a long way to go before its available everywhere.
Simply Brilliant!!! I can't wait
To see one of these bad boys upclose! I hope I will very soon
TeckieGirl40
There is a official bonafide Sprint Store literally 100 yds from my house. I am going to see if the have one to show today!
they won't have one to show today. there is ONE phone at each store, for the advocates. the store won't allow a customer to see or touch the phone.
but stay positive....this is a good sign. it means that in the next few weeks we'll have a release announced, pricing announced, and phones available in the store. =)
Wrong. I handled one this morning, albeit for just a minute. And they got it yesterday, not today and about a dozen people had handled it.
The gal I talked to in a store yesterday said "We don't have one yet."
"Riiiiiight."
She seemed not quite clued in, though.
iPhone fanboys unite! Down with the Pre!
retardo... oh wait I was talking about the iphone... oh wait, and you.... How's that Titanic you're riding on there? Pre himself couldn't even sink that ship, hmm?
Though to apple's credit, I am a Mac fan, for sure!... Just not an iphone.. wah waaaaaaah.
If my memory serves me correctly, when an advocate receives their phone, isn't the actual launch a week later? I recall after the advocates received the Instinct, it launched a week later, at least at the stores in my area.
One week, two week, even five weeks earlier than launch; and sometimes after launch.
In this case two weeks.
That would mean... the 30th?
hope these first responders spend lots of time writing on the blogs.
I'd agree, but I wonder if they're even allowed to... ?
> "feels like pure sex in the hand."
That's just wrong on so many levels. lol
If "pure sex in the hand" is wrong, then I don't want to be right.
...handed.
I couldn't agree more
Palm Pre is printed on the top left rear of the US Air Force car #2 which qualified 12th for the Indy 500 race. I am betting the release will be Memorial week end.
MMMMMMM.....memorial day weekend....that would be soooooooo nice
Not excited about the keyboard comments. My nickname used to be "Lumberjack."
I hope I can use this.
My friend who is high up with Sprint just let me play with it secretly. WOW, kind of like the size of a bar of soap maybe a little bigger. Feels great, WebOS is amazing. The twitter app is awesome as well, and it looks like they added a few search locations. Now it's Wikipedia, Google, Google Maps, and Twitter. How awesome is that!?
Anyway, can't wait until I can have one of my own!
Would be nice if we could get some info on battery life in the next few days
I called a rep yesterday and he verified that the phone is the first 4G device. He told me June but I'm hoping next week is true. I've been waiting for this phone and want it now.
Ok, I don't understand. On the one hand you say the keyboard is fantastic, the next second you say the keyboard is too small.
Which is it?
Or, do you like sexually small things?
The pre may or may not be already en-route to stores...my guess is that tuesday's announcement will be of availability and not just launch date.
Nuttyque:
"I called a rep yesterday and he verified that the phone is the first 4G device"
WRONG!
Directly from Sprint's 4G specialist via Twitter:
The Pre will not be 4G. Just the most dependable 3G ntwk! We currently offer the 3G/4G Mbb data card, more 4G devices coming.
I can't help the rep lied. I can only comment on what I was told. Just like I'm sure I don't care if its 3g, 4g, or whatever it just want the phone now. We are all tired of waiting.
Is that a scented marker on his desk?
AND a bottle of white-out!!
ya know I've been lookin and hearin about this phone for so long.. I don't think I want it ne more LOL
"So bright... Soo Beautiful.. MY PRE-CIOUS!"
Initial stock will be 15 phones per Sprint Store. Additional phones will not be available immediately as Palm scrambles to produce more units.
Hang on guys. We're almost there.
SERIOUSLY??? 15 per store!!!!!???? OMG!
That pic reveals nice spacing of the keys, which is comforting. It is one thing for them to be small and squished in together like the Centro...small and spaced is doable!
I think hardly anyone knows about this phone in my town (Chico, CA) and I'm pretty sure I can get the phone without any waitings. I'm so excited!
you see those fingerprints?
I was thinking the same thing - very visible fingerprints.
May 20th, 2:00 p.m.
What happens
Hey does anyone know what will happen if you have cards up on the pre and the battery dies will the system save the cards that you used until you charge the device or will they close
I hope every single Sprint employee who is leaking information about the Palm Pre is caught, investigated and then terminated for cause. Violating the Sprint Code of Conduct which is exactly what these employees are doing. Each leak is diminishing the competitive balloon and the impact of it's launch. I have been lucky and been able to identify 5 Sprint employees who were violating not only the Sprint Code of Conduct, but Palm/Sprint's NDA. What is truly sad is I discovered of the 5 who were terminated, 3 had families and the other 2 employees' spouses had just lost their jobs. Serves the employees right. I wish I could have been in the room when their SMs' brought them into the store for termination. Yes, I am a retail store employee who works in Jana Howell's/our ARD region. My DM is Denise Raney of GA.
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