P.S.- Oh, and for some reason Palm also filed a new ZigBee chip with the FCC today as well -- future home-automation plans in store?
[Originally posted at engadget.com]
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Palm Pre arrives at the FCC
You didn't think Uncle Sam would let Palm launch the Pre without taking a good hard look at some dense SAR reports, did you? Yep, there's a gray suit out there right now just rockin' away in WebOS while you're stuck counting down the days until your KRZR contract expires, and there's nothing you can do about it except pore over the publicly-available data and try and imagine what the Pre's measured RF emissions might feel like while coursing through your body at ear-level. Breathe deep, friends.
P.S.- Oh, and for some reason Palm also filed a new ZigBee chip with the FCC today as well -- future home-automation plans in store?
[Originally posted at engadget.com]
P.S.- Oh, and for some reason Palm also filed a new ZigBee chip with the FCC today as well -- future home-automation plans in store?
[Originally posted at engadget.com]
Success Of the Palm Pre May Depend On Developers
There is an old computer industry adage that "software sells hardware." On June 6, the Palm Pre may again prove the truth in those words. Applications, or the lack of them, are likely to plan an important role in the Pre's relative success, or failure.
Apple, meanwhile, is expected to introduce new iPhones running its 3.0 operating system, perhaps only two days after the Pre's launch. Developers are already building applications for the new iPhone OS, diverting energy that Palm might otherwise harness.
Palm, with its rocky history, has a bad reputation in some circles. That could also slow developer support for the Pre, as those with limited resources bet on other companies' offerings.
If you were a developer, which smartphone would you create applications for? Apple's iPhone is a given as it offers a powerful platform and comes with an easy way for apps to be sold to customers. All other smartphones pale in comparison to Apple's work.
As for the others:
It's widely presumed that devices based on the Google Android operating system will become more common and that Google will figure out how to sell them online.
RIM doesn't have as advanced an applications platform among its smartphones, but can be expected to catch-up. RIM has sold plenty of BlackBerrys and sheer volume makes them interesting to developers.
Microsoft is the ugly duckling of the smartphone business. Its Windows Mobile has limited developer support and has never really caught on in the marketplace, despite years of attempts. My thought is that cellular carriers are skeptical enough of Microsoft that wide adoption of the company's mobile OS isn't likely.
It will be months before it will be possible to assess developer support for the Pre. While the June 6 launch of the Palm Pre will give the device needed momentum, it could be short-lived if Apple announces two days later at its developer conference.
The excitement surrounding iPhone 3.0 applications is likely to overshadow anything else that happens in smartphone development this summer. The Palm Pre, though exciting, is starting at a considerable disadvantage that will be difficult to overcome.
If software really does sell hardware, the momentum will be with Apple and not with Palm.
[Originally posted at pcworld.com]
Apple, meanwhile, is expected to introduce new iPhones running its 3.0 operating system, perhaps only two days after the Pre's launch. Developers are already building applications for the new iPhone OS, diverting energy that Palm might otherwise harness.
Palm, with its rocky history, has a bad reputation in some circles. That could also slow developer support for the Pre, as those with limited resources bet on other companies' offerings.
If you were a developer, which smartphone would you create applications for? Apple's iPhone is a given as it offers a powerful platform and comes with an easy way for apps to be sold to customers. All other smartphones pale in comparison to Apple's work.
As for the others:
It's widely presumed that devices based on the Google Android operating system will become more common and that Google will figure out how to sell them online.
RIM doesn't have as advanced an applications platform among its smartphones, but can be expected to catch-up. RIM has sold plenty of BlackBerrys and sheer volume makes them interesting to developers.
Microsoft is the ugly duckling of the smartphone business. Its Windows Mobile has limited developer support and has never really caught on in the marketplace, despite years of attempts. My thought is that cellular carriers are skeptical enough of Microsoft that wide adoption of the company's mobile OS isn't likely.
It will be months before it will be possible to assess developer support for the Pre. While the June 6 launch of the Palm Pre will give the device needed momentum, it could be short-lived if Apple announces two days later at its developer conference.
The excitement surrounding iPhone 3.0 applications is likely to overshadow anything else that happens in smartphone development this summer. The Palm Pre, though exciting, is starting at a considerable disadvantage that will be difficult to overcome.
If software really does sell hardware, the momentum will be with Apple and not with Palm.
[Originally posted at pcworld.com]
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Sprint To Offer Palm Pre Smartphone On June 6
Apple Inc. (AAPL) and Palm Inc. (PALM) are poised to rumble in early June.
Sprint Nextel Corp. (S) and Palm confirmed that their eagerly anticipated smartphone, Pre, will hit stores on June 6. That's just a few days before Apple is expected to unveil its next iPhone, which is sold exclusively through AT&T Inc. (T).
The stakes are high for Sprint and Palm. Palm badly needs a hit device to turn its fortunes around, while Sprint continues to see an exodus of subscribers. Both view the smartphone as the key to their turnarounds. The Pre, meanwhile, has a lot to prove as it seeks to capture some of the success that the iPhone has had over the past two years.
Sprint Chief Executive Dan Hesse stoked the hype early Tuesday, saying he expects high demand.
"We'll have shortages for a while," Hesse told analysts during an industry conference on Tuesday.
The Pre will cost $199.99 with a two-year service agreement and after a $100 mail-in rebate. Collins Stewart analyst Ashok Kumar said earlier this month the Pre could be a huge flop if Sprint wasn't able to match or price below the $199 price tag on the iPhone.
Kevin Packingham, who runs product and technology development for Sprint, said the Pre is "extremely competitively priced."
Of course, the next iPhone could come out at a lower price, which would effectively halt any consumers looking to jump carriers for the Pre. Apple and AT&T slashed the price of the device by $200 a year ago. There's also the risk that the phone's launch could get drowned out by the hype surrounding the iPhone.
A spokesman for Apple couldn't be reached for comment.
Sprint shares recently rose 8 cents to $5.40.
Palm shares fell nearly 5.1% to $11.45, partly on concern that the Pre could face quick competition from the iPhone, but also on fears that the early shortage Hesse hinted at suggests lower unit sales.
Palm marketing head Brodie Keast declined to comment on the stock movement.
Both Palm and Sprint said the iPhone didn't factor into the timing of the launch.
"We really didn't look for any outside influence," Packingham said.
On the iPhone, he said: "We want customers to compare each device."
Palm's Keast said, "Ultimately, it was Sprint's call.... We just wanted to ship this thing when it was ready."
Macquarie Securities analyst Philip Cusick estimates that Palm could sell 100, 000 units in its fiscal fourth quarter ending this month, up from a prior estimate of 50,000. He was a bit less optimistic about the Palm's early success after Hesse's comments.
Sprint said Tuesday the phone would be sold at Best Buy Co. (BBY), RadioShack Corp. (RSH) and some Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) stores. It will also be available through Sprint's Web site.
Sprint hopes the Pre will act as a strong retention tool for the company. The carrier has lost more than 6 million subscribers in the last six quarters.
The Pre should blunt some of the losses, according to Cusick. He estimated that Sprint would lose 1.1 million contract customers in the second quarter, narrower than the loss of 1.25 million in the first quarter.
[Originally posted by Kerry Grace at money.cnn.com]
Sprint Nextel Corp. (S) and Palm confirmed that their eagerly anticipated smartphone, Pre, will hit stores on June 6. That's just a few days before Apple is expected to unveil its next iPhone, which is sold exclusively through AT&T Inc. (T).
The stakes are high for Sprint and Palm. Palm badly needs a hit device to turn its fortunes around, while Sprint continues to see an exodus of subscribers. Both view the smartphone as the key to their turnarounds. The Pre, meanwhile, has a lot to prove as it seeks to capture some of the success that the iPhone has had over the past two years.
Sprint Chief Executive Dan Hesse stoked the hype early Tuesday, saying he expects high demand.
"We'll have shortages for a while," Hesse told analysts during an industry conference on Tuesday.
The Pre will cost $199.99 with a two-year service agreement and after a $100 mail-in rebate. Collins Stewart analyst Ashok Kumar said earlier this month the Pre could be a huge flop if Sprint wasn't able to match or price below the $199 price tag on the iPhone.
Kevin Packingham, who runs product and technology development for Sprint, said the Pre is "extremely competitively priced."
Of course, the next iPhone could come out at a lower price, which would effectively halt any consumers looking to jump carriers for the Pre. Apple and AT&T slashed the price of the device by $200 a year ago. There's also the risk that the phone's launch could get drowned out by the hype surrounding the iPhone.
A spokesman for Apple couldn't be reached for comment.
Sprint shares recently rose 8 cents to $5.40.
Palm shares fell nearly 5.1% to $11.45, partly on concern that the Pre could face quick competition from the iPhone, but also on fears that the early shortage Hesse hinted at suggests lower unit sales.
Palm marketing head Brodie Keast declined to comment on the stock movement.
Both Palm and Sprint said the iPhone didn't factor into the timing of the launch.
"We really didn't look for any outside influence," Packingham said.
On the iPhone, he said: "We want customers to compare each device."
Palm's Keast said, "Ultimately, it was Sprint's call.... We just wanted to ship this thing when it was ready."
Macquarie Securities analyst Philip Cusick estimates that Palm could sell 100, 000 units in its fiscal fourth quarter ending this month, up from a prior estimate of 50,000. He was a bit less optimistic about the Palm's early success after Hesse's comments.
Sprint said Tuesday the phone would be sold at Best Buy Co. (BBY), RadioShack Corp. (RSH) and some Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) stores. It will also be available through Sprint's Web site.
Sprint hopes the Pre will act as a strong retention tool for the company. The carrier has lost more than 6 million subscribers in the last six quarters.
The Pre should blunt some of the losses, according to Cusick. He estimated that Sprint would lose 1.1 million contract customers in the second quarter, narrower than the loss of 1.25 million in the first quarter.
[Originally posted by Kerry Grace at money.cnn.com]
Monday, May 18, 2009
The summer of the smartphone; Release Date First Week of June?
A new piece in the New York Times is out to lay the foundation of what they say “could be potentially the most exciting time in [the mobile phone] market.” This summer is indeed shaping up to be an interesting one in the smartphone market, with at the very least a new iPhone, a handful of Android phones, probably a few new BlackBerries, and of course, the Palm Pre, set to land in the hands of users between Memorial Day (next Monday) and Labor Day (September 7).
While much of the article goes over things that we already know (Palm’s losing buckets of money every quarter, Sprint’s not in a great position either, the smartphone market is ripe for expansion, etc), they did lend some credence to the current strongest release date rumor:
As in June 5th or 7th, the two dates we've been hearing fairly consistently lately. Hopefully we’ll be getting some sort of confirmation from Sprint and Palm on that very soon...
[Originally posted at precentral.net]
While much of the article goes over things that we already know (Palm’s losing buckets of money every quarter, Sprint’s not in a great position either, the smartphone market is ripe for expansion, etc), they did lend some credence to the current strongest release date rumor:
"But the season’s most compelling phone drama will start the first week in June, when Sprint will begin selling the Palm Pre, people briefed on the company’s plans said."
As in June 5th or 7th, the two dates we've been hearing fairly consistently lately. Hopefully we’ll be getting some sort of confirmation from Sprint and Palm on that very soon...
[Originally posted at precentral.net]
Buy Now Button appears for Palm Pre?
A New Image Spotted in Wild with Buy Now Button of Palm Pre.
Have a Look....
Have a Look....
Sprint Palm Pre Page Now Up and running!!
Hi all Sprint Palm Pre Page Now Up an running!!
SO expecting Pre Sooooon. Cant Wait!!!!
Please find the Link Here
SO expecting Pre Sooooon. Cant Wait!!!!
Please find the Link Here
Sprint Palm Pre Webinar - Q&A - Sprint Plans-Video
Sprint Palm Pre Webinar - Q&A - Sprint Plans
Spotted in the Sprint website Enjoy watching
Spotted in the Sprint website Enjoy watching
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