Listen, folks, we're reticent to keep talking about this rumored February 15th release date for the Palm Pre because it just seems so crazy early and so unlikely. Yet here we are again receiving information from a source we can't dismiss out of hand. We've already heard about it from our forums, had it persist from anonymous tipsters who may be in a position to know, had it repeated in our forums that the February 15th release is the ideal target date, but they're not sure if they can make it, then heard that "Palm is confident" they can make their release date.
Now this: we've confirmed that Palm is already meeting with employees from Bell Canada to fill them in on the Palm Pre, Treo Pro, and Palm Centro. That Centro bit is actually interesting as we've previously heard rumor it was to hit the network on Feb 2nd. As for the Treo Pro, well, we know that although unofficially available now (See this hands-on), it should be officially out for Sprint fairly soon.
Our source tells us that a Palm Pre launch "about the same time as Sprint" in "about two weeks" is definitely the current plan (sounds like February 15th to us) and -- get this -- there will be additional phones from Palm later in the year.
Add that to the fact that we're also confident that Sprint reps are also already being trained on the Pre and maybe, just maybe we are starting to believe that this February 15th thing could be possible. Maybe.
Thanks anonymous tipster!
Comments
YESSS!!! Hope it's true. I will be at my sprint store on the morning of Feb 15th if I get that confirmation email giving us the Official Release Date!
Yey!
I hope the OS is well worked out though, for a 02/15 release. I also hope Palm saw the Blackberry Storm's launch backlash, heh.
I am signed up also to get that email. I should request the day off now just in case!
I still don't believe it but hope its true. The sooner its out on Sprint the sooner I hope VZW gets it.
I WANT TO BUY THIS PHONE NOW!!!!!!!!!!!
The 15th is a Sunday. Would they start selling it on a Sunday?
Sprint usually launches on Sundays.
February 15th is also the day the Daytona 500 is run, which coincidently is the super bowl of racing for "Sprint" NASCAR. Why not release the PRE on that day? If that is the case, sprint and palm would easly be able to market it to the masses!
So I'm guessing they're praying that nothing goes wrong?
I want this phone BAD and ASAP, but two things. Palm needs to make sure the OS is up and running smoothly. As some have said even here, remember the Storm and iPhone 3G!!! Second, Sunday?!? To many, Sunday (including myself), is a horrible day to release. I do see the benefits of releasing a weekend, but I hope that's not the only reason on why they want to release on a Sunday. Make it a weekday, preferably towards the end of the week. Like a Thursday or Friday. Believe it or not, many people still go to church and even if they don't most consider a day of rest. Even a phone freak like me takes a day off on Sunday. The last thing I want to do is wait in line (and hope I can get one before they are out). AT&T and Verizon released iPhone 3G and Storm, respectively, on a Friday and they still got record sales.
I'm old enough to remember when it wasn't legal for most businesses to be open on Sunday. But for me, Sunday is vastly preferable to a weekday. It gives me a chance to not only buy the phone, but the rest of the day to explore and configure it.
I suspect that most people would consider buying a new toy an idle activity, not work.
Actually a Sunday launch makes complete sense if the Best Buy Exclusive Launch Partner is true. All big Best buy sales and releases are on Sundays (circular day)
Sorry guys, not going to happen. I think the tipster is getting his/her dates confused with the relaunch of the Treo pro which at one point i believe was February 15.
Yes it is true that Sprint traditionally launches on Sundays but not with the Pre on the 15th....
So.... rumor SMASHED by Anonymous. You all can thank me later when i save you all the big let down when it doesn't happen.
VERY WELL SAID!!!
Anonymous,
If this were one tipster it would have been instantly dismissed (and it was), but when the 2nd source came out , then 3rd, 4th, I think we're on 7 now you have to at least think it could be possible.
Whenever it comes out. I just hope they give current customers of Sprint first dibs at it. Afterall, we stuck with them when everyone has been bad mouthing them.
Not that Sprint store reps are always reliable sources of intel, but I called my Sprint store last night and asked if they had any information on the Pre's release. They said that they were expecting the Pro to be released around the 15th, but they had no word on the Pre other than a very weak launch around the end of Q1.
One thing he said kinda got me interested though... He mentioned that with the release of Sprint's Samsung Instinct, anyone who signed up online for the Instinct's release was given a voucher to allow them to go to their local Sprint store 2 days before the official release to pick up an Instinct early. So, he said that could likely happen again with the Pre. So, I'm glad I'm signed up with Sprint. I hope that happens. Then again, if the 15th rumor DOES turn out to be true, that would mean we'd be getting the Pre on Friday the 13th....
np, I hope you're right. I can't wait for the Pre to come out. I have way too many phones (iPhone 3G, BB Storm, Instinct, and the Samsung Eternity) and I want to bring it down to one or at least two.
I'm not going to make an estimate on when the Pre is coming out, but like everyone, hopefully soon. However, I have to say something. Now, some have mentioned they misread or misheard that it was the Pro and not the Pre. I don't know where they learned English, but the spelling and pronounciation are completely different. How can they mistake that. I can understand if it were one was called Two and the other was Too.
After hearing that a Sprint rep had said to some one that the Pre will be out on the 15th of Feb. I decided to call and see what I can get out of them.
Low and behold, I called and spoke to some one in the cancellation dept. They confirmed that the Pre, not the Pro, will be out on the 15th of Feb. I asked her several times several different ways and even asked if she meant the Pro because I am not interested in the Pro.
Everytime, every way I asked, she interated that the Pre will be available on the 15th of Feb!!!
I can't wait!!!!
Yeah i will be really happy if it comes out on the 15th but iono if i want to get it right away, if there are bugs or something in the first few
Once again, I'm going to state my opinion on this and then shut up. The Pre and Pro are getting mixed up on this with the agents everyone is talking to. The Pre will not be coming out on February 15.
I'm still trying to save everyone the let down come 2/15 but it doesn't look like anyone wants to listen. Keep you hopes up if you want to be let down.
rumor smasher--you've got to back it up with *something* for people to believe you. Deep Throat may have had to keep his identity secret; he still helped Woodward & Bernstein find the evidence to corroborate their case. What you're saying here makes me think of the commentary in the media lately about "too much use of anonymous sources" and how there's often no way to verify what they're saying--only here, you're your own anonymous source. If you're under NDA, say so. If not, say *something* about why you can't give more info.
My take: I think Sunday (the Super Bowl) will be key. In other words, I think we're likely to see both (a Sprint Super Bowl ad featuring the Pre and a 2/15 launch) or neither--it just doesn't make sense to me otherwise. Will I be a bit disappointed if not? Sure. Will I be heartbroken? No.
I noticed this comment in InfoSync's article about the Pre: "The demo models we saw were also highly responsive, and Palm product managers assured us that the demo units were very close to complete, barring some carrier tweaks and last-minute adjustments."
Could be that the only holdup is Sprint testing and that's why Ed Colligan made a point of saying it'd be out "first half of 09 and AS SOON AS POSSIBLE". You can bet that as bad as Sprint needs a hit they will be going full out to get the Pre approved ASAP.
there was no super bowl Palm Pre commercial, right?
Right, it was the Roadies commercial.
With no ad during the Super Bowl, it's going to be the end of the 1Q of this year - earliest (my guess, of course). They need time to advertise once the Pre is ready. They are not going to shoot it out without some advertisement. And 2/15 is way too short. Palm and Sprint was wise not to give a release date when they brought out the Pre at CES. This gives them both time to work on the Pre without being rushed. Unlike Apple and Blackberry. At least, Blackberry came out and said they were rushed and that's the reason on why the Storm had so many bugs. Apple has too much of an ego to admit their mistake. However, Apple has most of their bugs for iPhone 3G. Blackberry is still working on theirs. Good move Palm from learning from their mistakes. My last remark, Palm and Sprint will need to bring it out by the end of 1Q. I'm sure Apple and other companies are scambling to bring out something. As some have said, Apple has the resources and a huge following to make the Pre's spotlight go from headline to the middle of the page, if they decide to bring out the next generation of the iPhone around the same time. Remember, the news of the Pre came out at the beginning of the year. If Apple brings out 3rd generation iPhone around the same time as the Pre, it would steal the news.
With all of the confusion over the Pre and Pro and which one is coming out on the 15th, one thing that people overlooked. How come Sprint hasn't mentioned or even advertised the Pro? Palm has picked Sprint as the exclusive carrier for both of their top-notched phones. With that said, you think Palm would have asked Sprint to start advertising the Treo Pro. No phone company would want their products to be sitting on the selves.
It does seem odd that with the money Sprint spent on the Superbowl commercial they would show an old commercial thats been out for weeks.
That being said I wouldnt assume the Pre is delayed (or not delayed) because of the absence of a Super Bowl Commercial.
Very true... Just because there wasn't a commercial about the Pre in the Super Bowl doesn't mean there's a delay or not a delay, but it does put a stronger emphasis that the Pre will not be released on the 15th of this month. It would be unwise of Palm or Sprint to release the Pre without some sort of advertisement. Even Apple, AT&T, Verizon, and Blackberry released advertisements a month before releasing their prospective phones into the market.
If it is in fact April 15, then I can cash my paycheck at Nick's Check Cashing store and pay cash for a Pre. The 15th is a very smart cashflow strategy
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