We’ve got a lot of sources out there. For the past five years, we’ve dominated coverage of all the carriers. Sprint was the first.
So when Sprint decided to finally ship a somewhat open, Linux-driven, modern Palm phone… it wasn’t a question of who was going to review it first.
And now, for the first (full) review of the (final) Palm Pre.
Palm hasn’t been known for Sprint integration. Most of Sprint’s Palm phones come somewhat desolate of Sprint service integration. This is a major reason why Sprint gets a bad reputation in the wireless industry. Tech-savvy people grab a Treo, turn it on, and don’t find Sprint Navigation. They don’t find Sprint TV. They don’t find a Music Store. And while niche devices like the Treo 800w and Pro finally checked the boxes… the implementation fell silent. Everyone was already waiting for the Pre.
Thankfully, the Pre does Sprint integration right. Sprint TV excels on the Palm Pre. It’s not clear if the Pre is using a newer, higher-resolution H.264 connection… or if Palm’s playback software has hardware acceleration. But, it’s great. And, unlike SlingPlayer… doesn’t “harm the AT&T Sprint network.” Unlike AT&T, Sprint doesn’t violate FCC rulings and limit what you can do with your device.
And that shows with the Pre. Sprint Navigation is just the beginning… the app portfolio service on the Pre appears more extensible than iPhone. However, Palm didn’t let too much slip out about it; all apps have been removed from the store. Palm says they’ll add the service back on launch day, so we can’t put their app store to the test… yet.
Probably the worst feature that we had experience with, was USB mode. Copying to the device was slow… slower than ActiveSync was over USB 2.0. It almost reminded us of iPhone OS 2.0, before Apple updated the sync process to, well, work.
Amazon MP3 does work already… and it’s a welcomed relief from the Sprint Outsourced Music Store. Palm put their foot down, and it paid off here. Having a music store on-par with the iPhone is key for a device like Pre… and while iPhone’s iPod software makes iPhone better for controlling music… we were happy with the shopping experience.
And yes, music does play in the background.
Surprisingly, nobody on the team was happy with YouTube. While Sprint TV was a treat, YouTube was limited to searching. It’s not clear if this is going to be quickly updated, but the player software is minimalistic at best.
Facebook integration also appears to suffer from first-instance issues. The application supports a minimal set of the Facebook API, limiting users to a 2007-style interface, with only profile and contact information. Chat is nowhere to be found.
Other Sprint apps, such as Nascar Mobile, were also surprises… in that they weren’t terrible. Usually these outsourced apps run slowly and don’t update properly. Not so on the Pre.
Messaging is a delicate subject for many. The Pre not only has a capacitive display (which yes, is very much capacitive… unlike the Touch Pro, it loves a human’s touch)… but it also has a keyboard. Typing on the Pre, like any smartphone, is sure to be the subject of many arguments. Some will say that iPhone’s multi-touch approach is better… others will say the Pre is better.
We really love how the debate puts Apple’s Steve Jobs, and (formerly) Apple’s John Rubenstein at odds. When asked if Apple thought about adding a physical keyboard to iPhone, Jobs dismissed the idea flatly, citing the team’s unified decision to move ahead with multi-touch. The first device with Rubenstein (the “father of the iPod and iPhone”) as chairman of Palm… has a physical keyboard. It cauterizes rumors that he stood out as the most major opposition to the lack of a physical keyboard on iPhone.
Still, we aren’t alone in thinking it takes some acquiring to get acquainted to typing and messaging on the Pre. Every early user we’ve talked to agreed that the interface requires jumping through menus in an odd manner… especially when toggling between windows and apps.
Lingering Questions for Palm
We’re still left with some questions. With the webOS SDK still not fully unveiled… we’re left asking Palm what they’ll let people do with the device.
iPhone limits software to what they can do with background apps.
Android limits software to not run Linux software directly.
BlackBerry limits software all over the place.
Palm Pre? Well, we don’t know what limits will be there.
Obviously, for webOS software, a lot of apps are breaking the rules internally. A lot of these apps are Linux-coded from the bottom to the top. Will Palm let other developers have the same level of access? We think it’s going to be a deal-breaker if they don’t. As Apple learned with iPhone, limiting all the toys to their own software, leaves everyone else taking their toys elsewhere.
Lingering Questions for Sprint
Unfortunately, we’re pointing the most anger here at Sprint.
Once again, Sprint proclaims that another device requires Everything Plans. That is misinformation, plain and simple. The Palm Pre, like the Samsung Instinct, could run on any modern Sprint plan. Sprint simply would need to require the presence of a Power Vision Pack, in order to activate the device.
Even the hard of hearing, and data-only customers, are simply told to chose another phone. It makes us sick… and here’s why.
Instead, Sprint is requiring people to buy a top-revenue Everything Plan. Our memo to Sprint: It may just kill Palm, thanks.
Why might it kill Palm? Tech-savvy people like their old plans. They hate when people try to kick them off… and they’ll respond by going elsewhere.
With most of the tech savvy people refusing to get the Pre, on Everything Plan hostage terms, there won’t be many people rallying the success of the Pre.
Now, you might respond that while Sprint is in the wrong for deceiving people, that the Palm Eos will be coming to AT&T. We’re just left wondering if the Pre will fail because of these hostage-terms plan requirements, and if anyone will buy a Pre in the interim? Will Palm live long enough to ship the Eos?
Sprint, wise up and drop this ridiculous plan requirement. The Pre is an excellent device, but isn’t worth higher per-month pricing. Those customers can, and will, get a Wi-Fi enabled Windows phone, and sling Wi-Fi to the iPod touch. Such a shame too, because the Pre is Sprint’s converged solution. Only those on Everything plans will be able to use it.
Closing Thoughts
Barring any last-minute snags, which seem unlikely at this point, we’ve reviewed the final version of the Pre. There is the potential, as previously reported, that Sprint could pull their escrow of the firmware if they find anything show-stopping. We doubt that will happen at this point, and expect the device to be sold in early June.
Minor Update: Hours after posting this review, Sprint confirmed the June 6th launch date for the Pre.
We are holding off on casting judgment on a few areas, which we outlined previously. Palm’s App Catalog is not open yet, and we won’t touch the sync servers for calendars and contacts until they go live. MechaWorks is intimately familiar with cloud computing, and we understand that it is in an active state of development still. We aren’t even using those apps yet, so we don’t get any first impressions from servers that aren’t final.
The Pre is a beautiful device. We love it, we love to hold it, we love to use it. Sprint, please don’t kill the golden goose (for Sprint, or for Palm). Let everyone with an unlimited data plan use the Pre… it’s better, but not enough to fork over an additional $20 to $40 per month. For an extra $960 (over the course of two years), we’d rather have an iPod touch, plus a couple of netbooks (sipping Wi-Fi from any old Windows phone).
I am on the same boat. I would love to get the Pre but I refuse to pay for an everything plan for it. I really do hope Sprint surprises us all by not requiring it.
Ugh….Nice review. Sounds more like a crack at Sprint and AT&T. Where in the article do you talk about the call quality? The picture quality? And everything else that more reputable tech-blog sites put in their reviews?
Thank You for your Review!
I really want to get the PRE (actually 3 for the whole Family), BUT as your article so Perfectly spelled it out I CAN’T because of their ridiculous and shameful Everything Plan Requirement. I am a SERO Plan Holder and even though my account already comes with Unlimited Data and everything I need minus the GPS/TV which I care less about I would pay $10 extra for that happily. NO Can’t do that because Sprint won’t allow it for us or for all those millions of F&F Plan users.
Does Sprint not understand that this will make their numbers bleed even faster, and do the Stock Holders, & Board of Directors not see how this affects the bottom line when you piss off your core constituency?
Wasn’t it just back on July 2nd, 2008 that Sprint Media Relations Stated: “More importantly, Sprint also clarified that they will not implement such a change in the future. Per Sprint media relations: “SERO customers continue to be able to purchase PDAs and Smart Phones and a variety of SERO rate plans continue to be compatible with these devices.â€
WHY Sprint, WHY are you trying to end your business using tactics such as this?
Give your Customers EQUAL and FAIR Treatement allow us the option to just add what we need to make these Beautiful Phones like the Palm Pre Work!
P.S. PALM GIVE SPRINT HELL ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THEY ARE COSTING YOU DEARLY!
I entirely agree with the reviews comment regarding the data plan. Its not worth doubling my 30 dollars a month sero plan ( I have eight lines) just to get the Pre. I am already slinging my winblows mobile phone via wifi to my ipod touch.
Let me reiterate. There is no way on Gods earth that I will ever leave my Sero plan, no matter if its a jesus phone or not.
Scott, like keyboards, we tend to stay away from call quality and performance. There are many different factors that make that a local thing, just as much as a personal preference on if you like keyboards versus T9 versus multi-touch.
Perhaps you should ask those “more reputable tech-blogs” if they even know how many network vendors each carrier uses for cell sites? Or where their Pre review is? I’d appreciate a response when you hear back from them.
In case you haven’t noticed, we’ve pulled back reviewing devices as stores have increased their return periods. With so many different network vendors, we really suggest you pick up the phone and try it out in your area… and return it if you aren’t satisfied.
This is a bit of a new review style, but it is something that we’ve tested out and look forward applying to other devices.
The screen was great, on-par with iPhone, but consistent with the size of the device. It’s a small device, but unlike Windows Mobile’s 3.2-inch me-too form-factors… the Pre’s display fits the device. And the resolution works at 3.1 inches. But, like the keyboard, we don’t inject our personal preferences… it’s something people will have to decide on their own about.
Camera… similar story. We didn’t do a lot of stress testing, it’s a better camera than what Apple neglected to improve. But, it’s still the same CMOS camera technology that we don’t even bother to post photos about. Call us crazy, but we miss when camera makers were actually spending money on compacting CCD technology into phones.
Dubs29, you are quite correct that Sprint made such a statement. We pressed them to provide that statement at the time.
Unfortunately, every Sprint retail point of presence has been told to require an Everything plan… no exception for SERO has been given as of yet.
Hopefully Sprint will wise up.
(And yes, for those unaware, SERO plans were low-revenue plans that Sprint sold mostly to tech-savvy customers… they include unlimited data, and would work just fine with the Palm Pre… just like Sprint promised they would a year ago).
[…] Review: Palm Pre (Sprint) – PhoneNews.com Trackback | Permalink | […]
Digg This: http://digg.com/gadgets/Review_Palm_Pre_Sprint
Nice review, Chris. I like that it wasn’t “fluff.” I’m been waiting for this phone. I am a Sprint stockholder and a Palm stockholder, but I will not switch my plan for the Pre. A Sprint rep told me a couple months ago that I could still get the Pre, but would not be allowed to get the rebate if I did not switch to an Everything Plan. Is that not the case. I would pay $500 for this phone to keep my plan.
I believe what you’re saying, and I’ve listened to Sprint reps speak on the requirement of an “Everything Plan,” but I’ve also heard Cooligan say that the “Everything Plan” was recommended. Even in footnote 1 of Sprint’s official press release, it states:
(1)Use of this device requires providing a valid e-mail address, mobile phone number, and related information for account setup and activation. Unlimited usage data plan strongly recommended; additional data charges may apply. Within wireless coverage area only. Number of applications and actual performance will vary depending on applications used and actions performed.
Are you 100% sure that an Everything Plan will be required and where did you get that info?
Once again, we have confirmed numerous times that the Pre will require an Everything plan.
If that changes, it changes in response to this article. We even confirmed that niche plans like the Relay and Data Only plans had not been cleared for the Pre.
Yes, it does directly contradict what Sprint promised about smartphones and SERO. But, it is the policy as things stand right now.
According to the official release: “The Palm Pre phone will be available from Sprint on June 6 for $199.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate with a new two-year service agreement on an Everything Data plan or Business Essentials with Messaging and Data plan.” Business Essential plans start at around $70 a month. Are you sure about Sprint requiring the $100 Everything plan for a $199 with $100 rebate purchase of the Pre?
The Everything Plans are great (even if they are much more expensive than older plans). I think Sprint should simply end SERO so we don’t have to listen to all the SERO prima donnas. Sprint needs higher prices to stay alive; if you don’t like it, find another carrier.
Again, this is the information that we, along with numerous other media outlets have been informed of, both via official and unofficial channels.
Sprint has had this review since we ran it. If they want to do an about-face, we’d be more than happy to report it. But it is accurate as of when we went to press.
And no, we’re not going to email Sprint every five minutes… they have all our numbers if they want to wise up and change course.
The next wave of rumors will almost certainly be that Everything plans will only be required until after supply meets demand. Ask those still waiting to activate an Instinct how that’s going.
Jeff, this certainly isn’t limited to SERO. In fact, most legacy customers aren’t on SERO at all. From Friends & Family, to low-overage plans, to even the Sprint Basic 200, Data-only, and Relay customers… this isn’t a SERO-only issue.
However, SERO customers do have a legitimate complaint, being that Sprint did assure them that Instinct was a one-time situation, and that smartphones would not be affected. If Sprint wanted SERO to just go away, they shouldn’t have made commitments to Sprint customers.
(For those keeping score, nobody at MechaWorks, as far as I am aware has a SERO plan… we’re just keeping Sprint honest here).
Edit: We did not include Business plans in our analysis. We’ve asked Sprint to provide a full list of corporate-liable plans, we’ll update when we get that.
I am another who will not be dropping my Centro for the Pre due to the Everything plan rule as it stands. The Pre will function just fine with my current plan setup which includes unlimited data. I understand Sprint wanting to increase their bottom line. Do they not see that just maybe this phone will bring back lost subs if they allow a power vision plan or the everything plan to work. I am a long time Sprint customer and would love to be able to show everyone my cool new phone. Guess I will just point to a website since I won’t have one in my pocket. Wake up Gary you have a good thing make it the best by removing the current plan restriction.
Chris please compare the G1, Iphone, and Storm plans to Sprints 69.99-99.99 everything data plans..
There have been millions of those phones sold that all have more costly plans than what sprint will require fron Day one on the Pre?
If you compare apples to apples Sprint plans are way way cheaper.
Just wanted to keep MechaWorks Honest
Other, we’re not here to debate plans. We never attacked the Everything plan, I strongly suggest you re-read the entire article before posting further.
Please do not turn this into a debate thread. The G1 and iPhone, for example, even work on prepaid.
Everything plans are fair for what they offer. But, for consumers that don’t want “everything”… it’s a hard sell.
Please show us where we attacked Everything plans as not being a good offer, for customers that want everything it includes.
All we pointed out was that Sprint was spreading misinformation by requiring them for all customers (using the baseless claim that they were specially-coded, versus any typical plan with a Power Vision add-on).
im in agreement with everyone here … i will not go to an everything plan that will be 100+ a month when my sero plan is 55 a month and fits all my needs … Sprint should not forget that its because of people like us on these plans that they are still in business … when sprint was a crappy network and had no customers and were begging for anyone to leave tmobile or at&t / cing or verizon .. we were the ones that came .. and suffered through all the horrible customer service experiences and horrible spoty service … its those legacy customers that are being made to suffer now instead of sprint rewarding them for their commitment to the company through growing pains .. just my 2 cents but i hope someone at or invloved with sprint reads this … if they opened this phone up it would blow away sales of everything else ..
for now ill stick with my custom windows 6.5 touch and just run my slingplayer on it which runs fine.. that along with my spb keyboard … works fantastic … its not the fastest by far .. but it does the job and every few months i get a new phone when i rebuild and upgrade the software ..
I am one who is interested in the Pre. I have no problem dropping AT&T for this phone. I also don’t see what’s wrong with the Everyything Data plans. Compare them to AT&T, Verizon & T-Mobile and Sprint wins hands down. I honestly don’t see the reason for the complaints. AT&T requires a data plan for the iPhone, Verizon requires a data plan for their smartphone/PDAs. I know people on both networks with old plans and if they wanted a smartphone, guess what they have to get a new plan.
To me there is nothing wrong with Sprint doing this. AT&T and Verizon are doing it and you know what, Sprint needs to do what it has to do so it stays competitive. If you have a SERO plan, then wait til the Touch Pro2 or the BB Tour late this summer.
That’s very excellent advice! I was a SERO customer waiting….and waiting….and waiting for sprint to come out with a great phone to use with my SERO plan and it never happened so I found another carrier and I have absolutely no regrets. I wish sprint would also get rid of their SERO plan and finish commiting suicide and that would DEFINATELY do it.
PL, to be clear, AT&T and Verizon require customers to change plan add-ons. The vast majority of customers on those carriers do not need to change their voice plans, when selecting a new smartphone.
(To be more specific, some Verizon dumb phones do require a Nationwide voice plan, but smartphones are exempted due to the aforementioned add-on scheme… and yes, we keep track of all of this stuff in our heads).
Sprint is the only carrier mandating smart devices on particular voice plans (first with Instinct, now with the Pre). If you’re new to Sprint, you’re certainly going to be less impacted by that issue.
I want to inject at least a little hope for people wanting the Pre … but I must say that I don’t have any documentation to back this up right now … I work for a Business Solutions Partner of Sprint, and we are a master distributor of their hardware. I have heard a couple times from different Sprint business channel managers that there is a possibility that Sprint will not force you to a Simply Everything plan if you are doing an ESN swap, aka an upgrade. If a Pre is being used for a new activation, then that will require the Simply Everything plan.
I’ve been looking for documentation to back this up, but nothing yet ….
@Ray
You realize you do not need the $99 Simply Everything plan. The $69.99 Everything Data will work. $15 more a month and if you are already on Sero you may qualify for the “new” Sero plans that are just a $10 discount on the Everything Plans. So if that is the case you could get the 450 Everything Data for $59.99 and you end up pay an extra $6/month to have the Pre.
Christopher, I hear what you are saying and yes I know they are addons. I am looking at it in a total monthly bill, addons or not. The price of as low as $70 a month on the everything data is excellent. They offer are SO much more than what AT&T and Verizon. Sorry I don’t want to turn this into a debate. Hopefully Sprint will change their minds making this work on SERO. All I know is I’m excited and those I told about the Pre and the plans on Sprint, they are excited too! They see what I see, how Sprint offers you more.
.
Doesn’t AT&T gouge their customers that purchase the iPhone? Isn’t their total plan cost (with added, unlimited texts and data) somewhere in the $130’s/month? How is paying $100 for unlimited everything (actually there is a $69.99 version as well) highway robbery?
SERO plan holders (myself included) should be willing to pay more to ensure that the company that employs your friends and family members can financially operate. Plain and simple.
Christopher, whether or not Sprint “should-have” told SERO plan holders something different a year ago is mute at this point. It is a business and no business is going to shoot itself in the foot and then just watch it bleed. Sprint has a new CEO and is taking new steps (which will definitely piss some people off) in order to ensure the solvency of this company going forward.
If only we lived in a world where Sprint hadn’t turned down the iPhone. Then everyone would be belly-aching about every other carrier. Tragic.
Jason, once again, if you want an Everything plan, it’s a fair plan. Please show us where we attacked the Everything plan for being a raw deal.
I will ask that anyone who thinks we’re attacking Everything plans, to actually read the article in full.
And, as I’ve said about four times in this commentary… this plan limitation is not isolated to SERO plan holders. It affects about nine other plan types which greatly dwarf the SERO install base.
SERO plan holders are one of the smaller groups affected by the Pre limitation. Hard of hearing customers I’d say are (ethically speaking) the most put out (again, Relay and Data-Only plans are also barred)… but Fair & Flexible (or possibly Free & Clear) plan holders probably are the most affected in terms of total customers.
The piece of info I’m still trying to figure out it, does the Pre have visual voicemail? That is the one feature keeping me on my Instinct, it’s truly indispensable for me.
Spot on with the comments on the “Everything Plan” I’ve been on a grandfathered “SERO” plan for several years, using various smart phones. I wanted a Pre, but it would have cost me another $480 a year in plan costs to switch to Pre frendly plan, even though I already have more talk time than I can use and unlimited data and texting. So, I’m on a new Touch Pro. Anybody got a spare battery?
Chris,
I 100% agree with you about the plans. I have been a sprint customer for 8 years now and have stuck with them through network problems and many different phones. Since I got my first phone with a camera I have had the same data plan, which has allowed me to tether to my computer, send unlimited texts, photos and do whatever I want. The only reason I have held off getting an iphone is the thought that I would have to change my plan and increase my monthly fee for less service, besides the pain of changing services. Now since I would have to change my plan anyway, I see no reason to stay with sprint for a new device vs an established one. I will let other people debug this beast!
Greg
Chris
This comment alone proves what i was saying
Sprint, wise up and drop this ridiculous plan requirement. The Pre is an excellent device, but isn’t worth higher per-month pricing. Those customers can, and will, get a Wi-Fi enabled Windows phone, and sling Wi-Fi to the iPod touch. Such a shame too, because the Pre is Sprint’s converged solution. Only those on Everything plans will be able to use it.
Considering all of the millions of iphones and storms and ext out there ….
I have sprint and have had sprint for 8 years — the everything plan is the best plan out there for people who want use the latest hi-tech phones. For a time, i was thinking about going to at&t just to get the i-phone, but the price was completely ridiculous compared to sprint. T-mobile’s, G1 or Sidekick, and Verizon’s, pick one of their stupid phones, couldn’t touch sprint’s prices at all. For those that have grandfathered plans that are extremely cheap, not trying to be rude, but i don’t think sprint cares if you don’t get the pre, you are not going to leave and go to another carrier and pay their prices-so why do they need to appease you?
You realize you do not need the $99 Simply Everything plan. The $69.99 Everything Data will work. $15 more a month and if you are already on Sero you may qualify
I call BS in this “review”. There is no mention of call quality, battery life, wi-fi ease of use, email, profiles (Synergy), and myriad other things that would make themselves apparent with any quality time spent with the device.
I got with sprint because of the fair and flexible plans. If you go over you don’t pay 40 cents per minute. it’s either 10 or 20 cents. I have one of those and one sero plan.
Now, sprint does not offer Fair or Flexible plans. they require Everything, even if I have a gps, they require me to buy gps plan, I don’t watch tv on my phone but am required to buy it….EVERYMONTH.
I won’t do it. If I had to, it would be an Iphone. I’m a apple guy. I control around 14 lines of service, everyone follows my lead in the family. I’d rather have a friend get a t’mobile unlimited for 50 bucks and transfer liability and get the family on that if I’m required to pay more. Get and Iphone and use it unlimited.
Too bad sprint won’t offer older plans and sero plans decent phones. I’d like the pre or the eos, don’t care for the instinct.
But regardless, they won’t let me have it unless I double my monthly bill and pay EXTREME penalty for going over. 40 plus dollars for 100 minutes? I don’t go over everymonth, but I don’t go over enough to pay 30 bucks more each month.
Here is a break down of all the plans that the Pre can be on including NVP (if the company you work for receives any discounts from Sprint) discount.
http://insidesprintnow.wordpress.com/2009/05/06/palm-pre-nvp-discounted-plan-choices/
Like other have said, Sprint needs to get rid of Sero. Problem being they can’t just kick people off their current plan unless they want more lawsuites. What they can do is try to entice you into switching by launching flagship phones (Instinct and now Pre) that require plans that are much higher that you are currently paying. Is it the right move? I don’t think so but the only other option I see is to require a BB like data only plan for $30 a moth that does not include text, talk, or GPS. You can then add what you want a la cart style. In the end you end up right arount $65 to $70 or more depending on if you go with unlimited text or say 1000 text instead as well as the minutes. You are still missing Nav and I know not eveyone will use it but the GPS is used in more than just the Nav app (not counting any apps that may be release that use GPS to function) but the assistant fuction that will send out emails when the phone can tell you are going to be late to a meeting due to your calander and where you are currently at.
PS Sorry if this was hard to read….at work now and typing on a minmized browser.
say what you will about the Everything plan, they’re priced $69 – $99, but the Instinct was far from a failure because of the price plan. Sprint couldn’t keep enough in stock! Instinct sold well and so will the Pre.
[…] PhoneNews hacen una breve review de una Palm Pre que Sprint (la operadora que tendrá en exclusiva la Pre en Estados Unidos) les ha […]
Enough complaining about the plan. I want phone details. Hows the battery life so far? and how customizable is the phone in terms of ringers?
I already have the Simply Everything plan which is great and i am a user of the Palm 755p. Just curious to know whether or not information like calendars, contacts, memo’s etc. would be able to be simply sync’ed from a device like the 755, 750, 650 to the new palm pre. I have alot of memos and wouldnt wanna lose them
The SERO plan is now called the Everything Plus Referral Plan and to use it you must be referred by an employee. On the website:
“The Sprint Exclusive Referral Offer/SERO program has been retired, but a new Sprint employee program is now live! You must be invited by a Sprint employee to receive special savings through Everything Plus Referral Program.”
http://delivery.sprint.com/m/p/sprint/epc/epclanding.asp?id9=vanity:everythingplus
Here’s my question to you: Why wouldn’t a smart company drop a plan that did not make any profitable revenue? Assuming that is the reason Sprint is tight fisted with it.
I agree with JAZZYJOC–That was a weak review — GIVE US DETAILS OF THE PHONE!! The review above reveals nothing new that hasn’t been stated in prior articles.
Woo Woo – Great Job Palm!
I have been using Palm since 1997 and love their devices. Plus have been waiting for the Pre since last year, but as I just learned Sprint requires a Simply Everything Plan in order to use the phone. I really hope they change their mind because I don’t plan on droping my unlimited data plan and hop onto paying an extra $30-40/month for Simply Everything Plan. I will wait until June 6, if that still the case. I will finally get an IPhone.
I really think this device is the re-making of both Palm and Sprint, but Sprint cannot see that. By forcing subscribers to get Simply Everything Plan is a recipe for disaster. No wonder Sprint keeps on losing subscribers as other carriers keeps on gaining.
As a long time subscriber to Sprint (since 1996) this is their chance from me.
Harry
you don’t have to pay an extra $30 or $40/month — you can just get the Everything Plan (69.99/month)– Not the SIMPLY Everything Plan (99.99)
I have the Everything plan already, use a Mogul and sling the WiFi to my iPod Touch. I have been with Sprint for about 9 years but am awaiting Apple’s announcement regarding the next iPhone details. I LOVE the iPod Touch and plan to move to an iPhone because no one seems to get the media sync as well as iTunes/iPod combo. Hate to leave Sprint because I think they have the best pricing. Just tired of carrying multiple devices. Shame the Pre doens’t seem to get it either.
First I would like to take moment, and on behalf of the educated consumers’s of this Site, thank Christopher Price, for his tireless effort, in this day and age, his work ethics are commendable!
An Open Letter
“The reasoning behind the requirement was the same reasoning given for the Instinct, that is, the company did not want people buying voice only plans and end up surprised by potential data usage charges.”
PhoneNews March 16th, 2009
Data is Data, if you have “unlimited Data” on your account, it should not be “limited to 5 GB Data” or select cherry picked devices, i.e. Instinct, or Pre or any other future devices.
The Industry has executed a Coup d’etat against the consumer, by perhaps conspiring and enforcing, hence implementing the following two main steps:
1.The term “unlimited” has been forced silently modified to a “limited 5GB”, with no legal challenge by the consumer, first by Verizone… now by Sprint. That is in lieu with the ever-expanding technical capacity!
2.Next they limited the consumer’s choice of hardware, by concocting a new plan, which allows them to discriminate against any prior agreement, which they breached again, without any legal challenge. Limiting it to a specific device i.e. iPhone by AT&T and Instinct by Sprint, “reverse discrimination” against the rest of the accounts.
The oldest trick in commerce, known as “bait and switch”.
They always want the customer to pay more…its called greed, with one exception, that is when they are just establishing themselves and starting up, when they need customers to lay the foundation for the new company.
To be fair, this is an Industry wide pattern, Sprint is not the sole violator, Verizone started with step 1, AT&T took it to step 2 with the iPhone and its plans, and Sprint is building on step 2 by adding “other devices” to the industry trend, Pre as a second additional device after Instinct cleared the path and established the pattern of step 2 for the customers of Sprint.
The Cellular Industry in the U.S., arguably lead by Verizone, has been gauging the consumer, by charging the consumer for incoming calls, not allowing you the consumer to have the same controls as with landline, i.e. toll free calls, select blocking, limited caller id with no matching name, out of control incoming charges form text or calls e.t.c, unlike the rest of the consumer’s in the advanced free market.
Sprint is just the lesser evil/expensive actor in this Industry, grasping for more of a slice of the cake, the motto is “it is never enough”! Just like children in a candy store with no parental control.
Summary for current customers:
The “Everything Plansâ€, are at best, beneficial for new converts of other carriers, not loyal, established long-term customers!
You have no choice, but to sign up with the “Everything Plans” and hence give up your grand fathered/established plan, that is if you would like to buy the latest high end new phone, like an Instinct or the new S30, the Pre,….!
Solution
1. Congress, at some point in not so distant future, has to create “the Cell Phone Consumer Bill of rights” for this Industry, which is ran like the “Wild Wild West”.
2. Class action lawsuit on behalf of the millions of consumers, with complains in common, to maybe bring some real change to this abuse pattern.
In conclusion, if you are an established customer, this “bonus” is in addition to the forced, unchallenged “Administrative Fees”, that are shoved down the consumer’s throat on every monthly statement.
The timing on this new policy, demonstrates the desperateness of Sprint, this is surely not going to stop the account losses, by not only lacking gratitude or appreciation for current or long-term customers, in addition completely disregarding the economic state of the country, how patriotic, completely in line with the cancellation letters send to the Marines not too long ago, due to “excessive roaming” in the middle of wartime service to the country!
Sincerely:F1
Consumer Experience: Airtouch / Verizone, Tmobile, Sprint Spectrum/PCS
Sprint: Since 1997
Plan: modified Fair & Flex 700 with unlimited Data
Device: m610 since Dec 2006.
Thank You
A easy reply to F1
How man Millions of Iphones have sold with plans that cost over hundreths more a year…
Sprints current plans and prices are giving current and “loyal” customers great prices
The Pre and Sprint will do just fine..
It will sell out and sell millions by year end…
Listen to yourselves. I want this great device but I dont want to do anything on it…. Get a corvette, you need to buy premium gas to drive it. Sprints everything plans are far from ridiculous. Verizon makes you take vcast when you buy a phone and makes you take high end data plans when you buy pdas. Not too mention the plan that is REQUIRED for the IPHONE before you knock Sprint for staying competitve at the same time being far less expensive for more features than any other carrier and any other device, you should do some research and stop being whiney consumers that want everything for free. Do you not realize that with out these fees the carriers would not be able to maintain network coverage and come out with cool devices???? I mean I am not a doctor, but you know what I am saying right????
Hey Mark GARY has been gone for a long time, glad to see you know so much about Sprint
I hate to say it folks, but Sprint and Palm are both companies that have great technology, but very poor business acumen and a great deal of disinterest in the customer. They also are businesses in capital-intensive industries that think cutting operating expenses can somehow make up for not investing capital in their businesses. They’re both kinda like General Motors that way.
The way Palm has handled PR for the Pre since it was announced has been a total amateur hour. I can’t believe that Palm (and Sprint) released a new Palm widget in March two months after basically announcing the death of that entire legacy platform. It is only the anticipated quality of the webOS platform that has kept interest up, not some deft messaging technique of Palm. They’re definitely not Apple in that respect.
The fact that both those companies were plowing comparatively scarce capital into a device (the last Treo Pro) with a shelf-life of three months is just absurd business sense. Every dime that went into the Epic Fail that is the last Treo should have gone into making the Pre better and sooner. Its like if Apple was released a new Newton (now its in COLOR!) platform a month before the iPhone came out…just stupid.
And ever since Sprint bought Nextel they just have not been able to get it together. Their best asset is their network, which now they are apparently kicking around the idea of outsourcing their network to save money! You outsource business-common tasks, not the business itself! Its like UPS hiring FedEx for shipping because they’re cheaper, just doesn’t make any sense…and kinda makes the existence of UPS redundant by their own admission.
Talked to Sprint CS, you can use an existing Power Vision $15 a mo. plan with the Pre.