AT&T Lowers Centro Pricing for Back to School

Palm Centro ColorsNearly lost amidst the media hullabaloo of Apple's much-hyped iPhone 3G announcement is the fact that AT&T are temporarily taking a hatchet to the price of their Palm OS-based Centro prices in order to get a jump on the back-to-school shopping season.

Effective immediately and concluding September 20th, AT&T is now offering an all-time low price of $69.99 after all instant and mail-in discounts on the usual 2yr contract. This pricing is valid for both online and in-store retail purchases. This new price is applicable for all colors of their GSM Centro, including the recently-released electric blue Centro as well as the obsidian black and glacier white colors.

While is the lowest price direct from AT&T, several other mobile phone vendors have been aggressively pricing the Centro for several months. A few examples of this are Best Buy regularly offering both the AT&T and Sprint versions of the Centro at the $49 even $39 price levels since late last year or even Letstalk.com offering a free Sprint Centro + 1gb microSD card for new signups.

In addition to the omnipresent "iPhone Effect", the GSM version of the Palm Centro lacks the true 3G data speeds available to its EVDO CDMA stablemates and therefore does make more sense when positioned as a slightly cheaper, budget-oriented model.

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Hey, Gekko

mikecane @ 7/11/2008 12:18:00 PM # Q
You own a BACK-TO-SCHOOL PHONE!

Which phone is the toy now?

Got, um, Bloomberg?

Incoming kindergarteners rejoice!!
joad @ 7/11/2008 5:51:43 PM # Q
...The happy Fisher-Price toys you love so much are now on sale! Tell mommy and daddy that you need one of these for......?

|
**Another vote for a >100MB RAM Treo**
RE: Hey, Gekko
PacManFoo @ 7/12/2008 7:13:22 PM # Q
Palm's going to have a tough sell going up against this: http://tinyurl.com/5gu5su

The last known classic PDA user.
I've recently upgraded from a Palm TX to a Newton MP2000!
Reply to this comment

Verizon's Centro is 'Free'

wpowers @ 7/11/2008 3:45:55 PM # Q
Verizon is apparently following suit. Two days ago I "upgraded" to Verizon's Centro for free by buying online and extending my contract for two years.
RE: Verizon's Centro is 'Free'
hkklife @ 7/11/2008 4:17:03 PM # Q
If that is indeed the widespread case, then as of this precise moment, the Verizon Centro appears to be the best value among all of the various Centro versions IMO.

It has the newest ROM as of the moment and is the only Treo available at the moment with Google Maps Location functionality & EVDO speeds. Plus, it doesn't have as much bloat/trialware onboard as the Sprint or AT&T versions. I personally find the dark blue of the VZW version the nicest color for business-minded types as well.

IMO, VZW's network is still the best...but they still clobber you with much higher data & voice charges vs. Sprint SERO. At least the VZ Centro qualifies for their new lower-cost $29.99 "web + email" plan.



Pilot 1000->Pilot 5000->PalmPilot Pro->IIIe->Vx->m505->T|T->T|T2->T|C->T|T3->T|T5->Zodiac 2->TX->Verizon Treo 700P->Verizon Treo 755p

RE: Verizon's Centro is 'Free'
Gekko @ 7/11/2008 5:01:50 PM # Q
RE: Verizon's Centro is 'Free'
Poopie @ 7/11/2008 5:49:30 PM # Q
I rememvber the RIAA asking "how can you compete with free?"

Well... seeing how the carriers all plan to make their money of the 2 year plan, I'm waiting to see carriers start offering customers *MONEY* to sign up with a device for 2 years.

RE: Verizon's Centro is 'Free'
hkklife @ 7/11/2008 7:04:06 PM # Q
To playfully borrow a page from Gekko's playbook:

***************************************************
Coverage is key. What good is saving a few bucks a month on Sprint if your phone has maginal or non-existant service and you miss important incoming calls when you're trying to close a big deals or arrange a hot date etc ?

And time is money as well. What value do you place on YOUR time lost waiting for Sprint's clueless CS to handle a problem? Verizon generally is much better at that sort of stuff.

***************************************************

Pilot 1000->Pilot 5000->PalmPilot Pro->IIIe->Vx->m505->T|T->T|T2->T|C->T|T3->T|T5->Zodiac 2->TX->Verizon Treo 700P->Verizon Treo 755p

RE: Verizon's Centro is 'Free'
SeldomVisitor @ 7/11/2008 7:13:07 PM # Q
> ...I'm waiting to see carriers start offering customers *MONEY* to sign
> up with a device for 2 years...

For quite some time now http://www.letstalk.com has offered to give you $50 to take a Centro.

The Verizon Centro there, most expensive of the three carriers they represent @ $99, is free.


RE: Verizon's Centro is 'Free'
Gekko @ 7/11/2008 7:18:22 PM # Q

hkk - is that one of my old quotes?

you should try a sprint phone within the 30 day return period and test it out in your geographic area - i think you'd be surprised just how good sprint's voice AND data coverage has gotten. i've had all 3 big carriers, and sprint is just as good if not better than the other two.

RE: Verizon's Centro is 'Free'
hkklife @ 7/11/2008 7:22:33 PM # Q
1. Just to clarify, with Letstalk, that's $100 upfront at checkout, with the "free" part coming in the form of a $100 mail-in rebate.

I never judge an item's pricing by factoring in the MIR. I look at my "out the door" or "shipped to me" cost and assume the rebate will never be fulfilled. If it IS fulfilled, then that's just an unexpected bonus.

2. IIRC, the Letstalk checkout system isn't yet showing the new "affordable" smartphone web + email plan ($29.99=Centro), just the old ($44.99=Treos) smartphone data plan when you select the VZW Centro and try to add a plan to your cart.



Pilot 1000->Pilot 5000->PalmPilot Pro->IIIe->Vx->m505->T|T->T|T2->T|C->T|T3->T|T5->Zodiac 2->TX->Verizon Treo 700P->Verizon Treo 755p

RE: Verizon's Centro is 'Free'
hkklife @ 7/11/2008 7:27:57 PM # Q
Gekko;

No that's not one of your old quotes. But I think I did a pretty good job of making up my own little Gekko-ism, huh? :-)

It all depends where you are. Out here in the boonies of the south, it's a crapshoot. But in my experiences VZ is still consistently best when you leave the major interstate corridors and/or the larger metro areas, T-Mob is non-existant for the most part here & AT&T are basically worthless when you leave the cities...certainly their 3G coverage needs much improvement.

If I was on my own, I'd actually probably go with Alltel since their CS is absolutely superb and they have the cool all-black 755p...but since my employer covers the majority of my VZW data/voice bills, I'm happily content to stay on VZW for the time being.

P.S. Thanks for staying with POS for another device. We need all the support we can get around here nowdays!



Pilot 1000->Pilot 5000->PalmPilot Pro->IIIe->Vx->m505->T|T->T|T2->T|C->T|T3->T|T5->Zodiac 2->TX->Verizon Treo 700P->Verizon Treo 755p

RE: Verizon's Centro is 'Free'
Gekko @ 7/12/2008 7:57:20 AM # Q

the lack of comments here sucks.

RE: Verizon's Centro is 'Free'
TooMuch @ 7/12/2008 9:01:32 AM # Q
Gekko, the way this game is played goes like this...

1. Palm slammers have bought the death farm on Palm.
2. Thus any good news for the consumer or business or investor must be attacked, mocked or ignored (which is why MK had to divert attention away from the good consumer announcement and attack you in the first post so that puppets will arise).

RE: Verizon's Centro is 'Free'
LiveFaith @ 7/12/2008 10:07:48 AM # Q
Khris,

I agree with the Centro color assessment. I saw the Confederate blue metallic version yesterday at Circuit City. It really looks nicer than any other I've seen.

I'm still EDGing along with my 680, and the data seemed much faster. But still quite laggy for a device at 1/2 megabit. Is it the Blazer dinosaur? Just a perception.

Pat Horne

RE: Verizon's Centro is 'Free'
mikecane @ 7/12/2008 3:27:33 PM # Q
>>>the lack of comments here sucks.

Gekko, all the kidz who are going to be getting Centros for Back-to-School can't even cross the street alone - and you want them to use PIC?!!?

Just think of the fun you're going to have on dates now, ol' Gek:

Woman: I was just noticing your phone ...

Gekko: Ah, yes. My Centro.

Woman: Do you have kids? Did you borrow it from one of them?

HAHAHAHAHA!

RE: Verizon's Centro is 'Free'
Gekko @ 7/12/2008 4:44:30 PM # Q

i think palm would be stupid to dump the centro. it's very popular and has a big following. i think it is one of the best smartphones you can get for the money, especially if you want a great PIM/voice/email/text tool and like simplicity and minimalism. it's not something you buy to show off; it is something you get for yourself.


RE: Verizon's Centro is 'Free'
PacManFoo @ 7/12/2008 7:07:23 PM # Q
it's very popular and has a big following

Do tell, can you link us to some Centro Fanatics sites? I want to check out what that Silly Centro crowd is talking about.

"What color do you have? Pink or Electric Blue? Oh I hope they come out with more colors soon, I just
can 't wait. Gotta go, Hannah Montana's on!!! By the way, why is that old guy Gekko hanging around
here? It really creeps me out."

I bet their discussion forum traffic really drops down about 9 p.m.



The last known classic PDA user.
I've recently upgraded from a Palm TX to a Newton MP2000!

RE: Verizon's Centro is 'Free'
TooMuch @ 7/13/2008 5:47:03 AM # Q
All puppets seem to be in alignment.

RE: Verizon's Centro is 'Free'
mikecane @ 7/13/2008 1:00:33 PM # Q
>>>it's not something you buy to show off

Now THERE's a sales pitch if I ever heard one!

Wasn't that sales pitch for the Yugo?!!?
http://tinyurl.com/2oskzz

How does it feel to have a cellphone that probably is inspired by those damned Commies, Gekko? Make you feel all patriotic inside?

Oops. 8PM. bedtime for you. Did you brush your little teeth? Good boy.

RE: Verizon's Centro is 'Free'
mikecane @ 7/13/2008 1:02:45 PM # Q
>>>All puppets seem to be in alignment.

ROTFLMAO!!!! Now get your hand OUT of there.

RE: Verizon's Centro is 'Free'
TooMuch @ 7/13/2008 6:49:20 PM # Q
MK, you don't have to like Palm Inc. or even agree with what others say on this forum, but we can refrain from digressing this place to perversion. Banter is one thing but perverted posting is out of bounds. Say what you want on your own blog. Let's leave this place to a little higher level discourse and banter.

RE: Verizon's Centro is 'Free'
hkklife @ 7/13/2008 10:24:28 PM # Q
Interestingly enough, for those of us with Verizon who are eligible for the "new every 2" (NE2) $100, discount, on VZW.com both the 755p and Centro are free with activation.

IIRC, the Centro can be had without a data plan attached (pay per kb) but the 755p requires a data plan and cannot be used with the new, cheaper $29.99 smartphone e-mail/web plan.

Also, as of this afternoon, the 755p is out of stock (EOL'd already? Selling brisly due to the 1.08 update? Never ordered in large volumes by VZ due to the imminent appearance of the Centro? Who knows!)

Finally, the white AT&T Centro (I didn't see any other colors available in-store)is available for $50 out the door from Best Buy. They're recently revaped & remodeled several local stores' wireless departments to carry more smartphones and even a few unlocked handsets.



Pilot 1000->Pilot 5000->PalmPilot Pro->IIIe->Vx->m505->T|T->T|T2->T|C->T|T3->T|T5->Zodiac 2->TX->Verizon Treo 700P->Verizon Treo 755p

RE: Verizon's Centro is 'Free'
mikecane @ 7/14/2008 4:08:00 PM # Q
>>>MK

Eejit can't even get initials right.

And hey, what's this you have against hand puppets, moron? Are you puppetphobic?

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WTF Canada!

robitaille88 @ 7/12/2008 1:20:22 PM # Q
Here's how messed up things are in Canada:

The Treo 750w goes for $274.99 on a 3-year contract.

The Treo 680 goes for $174.99 on a 3-year contract.

The Centro is priced at a massively inflated $299.99, and that's on a 3-year contract!!!!

RE: WTF Canada!
mikecane @ 7/12/2008 3:28:57 PM # Q
But if you pay in American Dollars, isn't that like an automatic 30% discount now?!

RE: WTF Canada!
mikecane @ 7/12/2008 3:29:49 PM # Q
Damn. Or is that a 30% *icrease*?

1) I should NEVER, EVER do currency conversions

2) I should NEVER, EVER attempt currency conversion humor!

RE: WTF Canada!
Gekko @ 7/12/2008 4:38:14 PM # Q

it couldn't happen to a nice bunch. ok, maybe the french.

RE: WTF Canada!
Gekko @ 7/12/2008 4:38:29 PM # Q

nice = nicer

RE: WTF Canada!
Gekko @ 7/12/2008 4:39:02 PM # Q

canada lives off of the goodwill of the American people.

RE: WTF Canada!
robitaille88 @ 7/12/2008 10:23:41 PM # Q
Funny, I heard the reverse :-P
RE: WTF Canada!
SeldomVisitor @ 7/13/2008 7:28:00 AM # Q
He meant to say "Canada exists due to the goodwill of the American people".

RE: WTF Canada!
mikecane @ 7/13/2008 1:01:39 PM # Q
Canada exists to confound the world. Especially Quebec.

RE: WTF Canada!
SeldomVisitor @ 7/13/2008 1:41:38 PM # Q
Quebec is still struggling to learn English hundreds of years after The Fact.

That says it all.

RE: WTF Canada!
Solo @ 7/13/2008 3:53:13 PM # Q
At least, we can speak 2 languages - that's twice better than the average American...

P.S.: And if you don't stop it, we're gonna cut you off our Alberta's oil! Your big Hummers will be pitiful on the side of the road...



RE: WTF Canada!
bhtooefr @ 7/13/2008 10:26:19 PM # Q
Ebonics is a language, right? :P

So, there, we speak two languages as well. ;)

Clié PEG-SJ22
Abacus AU5005 Wrist PDA (soon to be shuffle modded)
Palm Centro (Sprint, black)

RE: WTF Canada!
BaalthazaaR @ 7/14/2008 10:02:29 AM # Q
Yeah Spanish and Ebonics. There we speak 2 languages.
RE: WTF Canada!
mikecane @ 7/14/2008 4:06:11 PM # Q
How's the beaver meat up there in Canada this time of year? Tasty? Or has hunting season not yet begun? Is it true the government gives everyone a free baseball bat (or was that cricket bat?) to hunt beaver? By the way, those beavers you've been hunting in the sewers of Toronto? Your government LIED to you. Those are RATS!!!

RE: WTF Canada!
SeldomVisitor @ 7/14/2008 4:12:30 PM # Q
> ...Is it true the government gives everyone a free baseball bat (or was
> that cricket bat?) to hunt beaver?...

No, those are for baby seals.


RE: WTF Canada!
mikecane @ 7/14/2008 4:27:54 PM # Q
How barbaric! You mean the Canuckians have to hunt and kill the beavers with their bare hands?!!? And those are *still* rats in the sewers of Toronto. NOT beavers!

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