Archive for: pre

Palm Pre Wars: Sprint And Verizon Dont Play Nice Over Palm Pre

When the Apple iPhone came out there was a massive rush onto the AT&T Network in the US. Now that everything is calming down a little and the world is used to the idea of the iPhone, the other main networks in the US, Verizon and Sprint are at each others throats.

Sprints CEO, Dan Hesse shot down claims by Verizon that Verizon would be getting the Palm Pre sooner than expected. Sprints CEO, who was due to launch the device the next day on his network made firm comments about their exclusivity deal concerning the Palm Pre phone.

He said that “they need to check their facts” and “That just is not the case. Both Palm and Sprint have agreed not to discuss the length of the exclusivity deal. But I can tell you it’s not six months.”

If Verizon go ahead with their aspirations to have the Palm Pre on their network by 2010 then indeed it won’t be six months. It will be seven.

It should come as no huge shock because both carries operate using the same technology and thus they both are ideal to carry the Palm Pre which is seen as one of the main competitors to Apple’s iPhone in the US.

However, I think that Sprint really does need this phone on their network. Thy have developed a bad reputation for poor quality service and bad connections and have worked tirelessly to fix the problem. This phone could be their one shining light. Hesse said “We are very different company than we were 12 months ago,”. “And the Pre is the coming-out party for the new Sprint that shows off our fantastic data network and rate plans.”

Nokia to Release N97 on 2nd June

We have long thought that the Nokia N97 would be shipped out in July, but there is a new rumour that the North American version will be shipped on the 2nd of June.

The evidence: a screenshot from the site of a major North American distributor, as seen above.

Additionally the Vodafone UK website is now listing the release to be in June instead of July for the Euro edition.

However, June is supposed to be a very quiet month for new handsets in the USA, but im sure you will see the iPhone and the Pre releases be next to the N97.

Palm Pre Helps Palm Inc Raise More Funds

Palm actually wants to get back into the smartphone race. Today the shares of Palm, Inc. (NASDAQ:PALM) rose about 15%.  The company increased the size of their secondary offering and raised $83.9 million as part of the process.  The company sold 23.13 million shares as part of the secondary offering taking place between now and March 31.

Palm was initially expecting to sell 18.5 million shares being held by investor Elevation Partners.  Palm added the extra 4.63 million shares at a price of $6 per share.  Through the offering, Elevation Partners made about $49 million.  Palm plans to use the capital raised to push the hype of the Pre in the smartphone market.

So far the Pre is looking great but is this one product really going to put Palm back on the map?