Phonenews is verifying earlier reports that Sprint is beginning training on the Palm Pre and throwing in some release date tidbits as well.
The current target is purported to be May 17th. However, if inventory isn't high enough by then, they could push the release date to what would be the last possible date that would fit within Palm's promised release window: June 29th.
Both dates ring true as Sprint is well-known to do their official releases on Sundays. Add in a rumor that Sprint has told employees that they are not to take any vacations in May and it starts to sound like, yes, we may be just about a month and a week away from a real release.
Thanks to everyone who sent this in!
Filed Under:
News; Tags: release date
Comments
The only problem is, June 29th is a Monday. Also, aren't premier customers getting first dibs on the Pre. Let's take May 17th, that would mean sometime during the week prior to May 17th premier customers will get the Pre, similarly to the soft launch of the Instinct which was on a Thursday. As to June 29th (28th?), the same should be true, premier customers would have access first during the week prior to the 29th.
Wouldn't the 29th be after iphones 3.0 release?
Wasn't that Premier Customer thing more about getting specials (like qualifying to upgrade to a new phone in a shorter time than a regular customer)? It didn't sound to me like first dibs on something like the Prē. Anyway, I don't know...just wondering out loud.
It's either "preferred, premier" or both. Those customers supposedly receive a device (depending on availability) during a soft launch, before it is launched nationwide. When I had the Instinct I got it during a soft launch, I cannot quite remember, I believe the email Sprint sent me mentioned premier or preferred customer. Anyways, the email informed me that I could receive the Instinct before it aunched nationwide the following Sunday.
I was told by Sprint CS that Premier Members get to be the first to find out about new products, that they won't let us actually get the Pre early.
thats lame :( I hope I can get first crack at it.
My guess is going to be May 22, yes i know that is a Friday but the reason for that is because it is the start of Memorial Day Weekend and they will take advantage of everyone having a 3 day weekend to make a purchase and watch all of their commercials on TV.
The Coca-cola 600 Sprint Cup series race is that same weekend for them to push out the news of the Pre.
And also because no one else has taken that day yet for a guess.
Haha, so stupid! Why would they release it so close to the new iPhone release date?
The i-Phone Launch is irrelevant. Those of us who know what this phone is capable of and are excited about the new platform and the new life that its breathing into palm will hold out for the Pre no matter what. For myself, as well as I'm sure many others, getting an iPhone just isn't an option, it doesn't reflect who we are. I contend that it isn't an option to be locked into Apple's Draconian Software DRM and Hardware Platform.
Those who think that Windows Vista is not an option as their next Operating System platform at home would do well to stay away from Apple, whose closed hardware practices and litigious nature to quell those who attempt to sell clones are straight out of 1984.
So let them Eat Cake, as they say.
LOL. Hate Apple much?
Seriously, I don't really like Apple's attitude (or that of the fanboys) much, but I just got a new 17" MacBook Pro for me and a MacBook for the wife and we love them.
We hope to be able to say the same thing about the Prē very soon.
I called Sprint yesterday about an issue and out of curiosity asked about the Pre. The rep told me she had been hearing some information about it. One thing she knew for sure (from an internal memo) was that the original launch date had to be pushed back. She didn't know what the original launch date was as she said the company always removes "old" launch dates and simply informs the employees of a changed date.
With that said, I am hoping for a May release date at the latest! I can't wait any longer!
Doesn't Sprint release their products on Sundays which would make the last date June 28, 2009?!?
you are right paul. but it's going to be released on june 21.
you shall see :)
Today I took my 755p in to get it replaced (again) for a stuck in headphone problem (again). When I'm in there I always ask whomever I'm dealing with when the Pre will be out. Today I was given "July 1st".
And did you buy the swamp they were selling as well?
Don't forget, the pre and the iphone are manufactured in the same plant, and you cant bet the better customer will get the priority.
Say what? Yes, this site has said the Pre is manufactured by a subsidiary of Foxconn. That's a long way from saying it's manufactured in the same plant!
Pass the salt, and plenty of it...
I'm sure there are plenty of plants that asssemble high quality mobile phones.
It's being manufactured on another planet's plant. Mars-conn is the name if the rep I talked to was "in the know."
I'd like it if both dates were true.... Sprint first and then AT&T or unlocked GSM release. Palm has to be looking at launching GSM. The CDMA market is pretty limited worldwide and Palm needs a bigger infusion of cash than the Sprint launch will provide. I'll be lurking at my local Sprint store but won't buy until the GSM version is released. If Apple comes up with the apps and keyboard functionality on the next iPhone, I'll stick with Apple.
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