Sprint CEO: Too Early to Tell if Pre is a Hit

Posted By: Ryan Kairer Monday, July 27, 2009 9:29:16 AM

Sprint CEO Dan Hesse has been generating some news coverage on his recent comments at a Fortune Tech conference last Friday. While apparently limited by what he could say about ongoing sales due to their upcoming earnings announcement, the executive still touched on the topic of Palm a number of times.

Despite that the Sprint chief told the attendees that the number one constraint for selling Pre's has been the actual supply of them from Palm. He went on to acknowledge a few shortages (which have long ago mostly disappeared) and went on to state that "it's too early to tell" whether or not the Palm Pre is a "real hit" device.

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Tough Call, I bet there are a lot of users like me...

jeffhoward001 @ 7/27/2009 10:36:04 AM #

Who plan to move over the the Pre once their contract on their current phone is up. I live in the NW, and I've noticed a TON of Centro's out and about (just by looking at what phones people are talking on). I predict a steady increase in Pre purchases as people's Centro (and other phones) start to expire, and Palm's exclusivity with Sprint is gone. Let's face it, as with Windows and Mac, there's only so much room for another Smartphone "explosion", just based on the sheer number of users in the smartphone market. I think the Pre will be a slow-roller that will creep into the double-digit market share over the next year.

(I'll set up an appt in Outlook to come dig up this thread in a year and see where we are!! :-)

- Jeff
Tungsten T -> Palm TX -> TX & Centro (Good combo so far!)

RE: Tough Call, I bet there are a lot of users like me...

jca666us @ 7/27/2009 10:55:06 AM #

i'd say single digit this time next year.

double digit will take a few years...

RE: Tough Call, I bet there are a lot of users like me...

LiveFaith @ 7/27/2009 11:01:37 AM #

Out of contract on ATT in December, so I'm waiting to evaluate the Eos and Pre if they come over my carrier. I really like the OS, Classic, and the form factor of the Pre (even tho they should have used the Roteo design) and seeing Skype come on board so fast today just gets me more excited.

The only thing that really turns me off about the Pre is the cheap feeling plastic materials used on it. Feels great in hand and is very pocketable, but the plastic feels weak and the slider makes me wonder IMO. I'm just whining b/c I'm waiting to buy most likely.
Pat Horne

RE: Tough Call, I bet there are a lot of users like me...

SFO_TXUSR @ 7/27/2009 1:28:15 PM #

Since my Palm TX was on its very last legs last year, I upgraded my AT&T contract to a Centro. I really did not want to swtich to Sprint and I did not want to deal with the teething problems of a new OS. Also, synching to my laptop for contacts, calendar, tasks, and memos in Outlook is also important to me. My Centro has been surprisingly good (particularly with TealOS) and will get me through until I decide to change. So I will wait for the Pre to come to AT&T (or even Verizon). Hopefully, all of the teething problems will have been resolved and more new application developed.

RE: Tough Call, I bet there are a lot of users like me...

rpa @ 7/27/2009 4:07:27 PM #

SFO: same here. I went from a T-E to a Centro and like it. The key for me is Outlook syncing. A Centro 2 like a Pre form factor would work for me but the Centro is the end of the line for garnet it seems.

RE: Tough Call, I bet there are a lot of users like me...

rpa @ 7/27/2009 4:10:13 PM #

SFO: from the Tealpoint web page:

"IMPORTANT! - A Palm's request, we have stopped selling TealOS on Monday March 30 at 5:00 PDT. Copies purchased prior to this, however, will continue to function."

Too bad!

RE: Tough Call, I bet there are a lot of users like me...

SFO_TXUSR @ 7/28/2009 8:28:23 AM #

rpa - Yes, it is really too bad about TealOS. It has turned my Centro into a completely different device and probably the best Palm (phone or not) that I have ever owned, and I have owned quite a few. During the short time that TealOS was on the market, the developers made quite a few updates to the application. So now, I really don't mind waiting for my current AT&T contract to expire,since the Centro is now a real delight.

RE: Tough Call, I bet there are a lot of users like me...

SeldomVisitor @ 7/28/2009 8:43:47 AM #

> ...Yes, it is really too bad about TealOS...

Perhaps the authors of TealOS are currently contracted to Palm.

RE: Tough Call, I bet there are a lot of users like me...

erazer @ 7/31/2009 11:14:07 AM #

Until the Pre (or any other phone) can do the things my trusty old Treo650 can do, I'm not budging. I really like the webOS and am waiting for the contacts/calendars/memos syncing to a latptop (Outlook) situation to be worked out to my satisfaction before I make a move. I'll also wait for a candybar form factor like the Treo. Most of all, I hope Palm brings back the Foleo concept in webOS (10" screen please) as that would really take care of all my communications and organization needs very neatly. I'd dump my laptop in a heartbeat. I think all of these are just around the corner though, so I don't expect to wait more than a few months.

There is zero chance of me going to an iPhone but a Blackberry or newer Android phone is a remote possiblity if nothing shows up in 4-5 months. And if my Treo breaks, I'll buy another on eBay.

Footprints

surfmaniac @ 7/27/2009 2:28:00 PM #

sprint, relatively small footprint and iffy service, Verizon large footprint and much better (at least in So Cal) service... many folks waiting for VZ before they jump (like me and at least 2 of my friends.)

Just my 2c...