RSSIs the Palm Pre still coming to Verizon?
By Tim Conneally | Published September 25, 2009, 11:44 AM
A report from an unnamed source published on TheStreet.com last night claimed that the Palm Pre, despite all reports to the contrary, would not be coming to Verizon.
Previous statements from Verizon Wireless President and CEO Lowell McAdam somewhat spoiled Sprint's launch of the Pre, saying that Verizon would be bringing the Pre to Verizon within six months.
But McAdam didn't quite say it would be the Pre coming to Verizon. Here is his actual quote from May:
Now we aren't typically the carrier that comes out and announces what we are going to be selling 12 months from now. Other carriers do that, and the media loves to speculate on what we are bringing to market. But what I will tell you is that over the next six months or so you will see devices like the Palm Pre and the cousin on our network from Palm.
So McAdam didn't exactly say it would be the Pre, but rather devices like the Pre and "the cousin," which presumably refers to the Pixi. News reports elsewhere that have been more directly influenced by Palm PR directly refer to the Pixi as Palm's "cousin", including from TheStreet.com.
Deutsche Bank analyst Jonathan Goldberg told Barron's today that he believes the Street's report yesterday is incorrect, citing Palm's supply chain orders which are consistent with another version launch. Furthermore, there are rumblings that COO Dennis Strigl told Verizon investors this week that the company expects to ship both of Palm's new devices.
Verizon Wireless' phones right now just aren't compelling, yet that fact hasn't had a negative effect on the company's revenues.
But that isn't to say there hasn't been an impact from Verizon's competitors having more captivating devices.
"I think it should be pretty clear the iPhone has had an impact on us," Ivan Seidenberg, Chairman and CEO of Verizon Communications Inc. said at the recent Goldman Sachs Communacopia XVIII Conference. "They have done a good job. AT&T has done a good job. Apple has done a good job with the iPhone."
But the issue at hand is that Verizon doesn't need a trendy device like iPhone or Pre to be successful. It is only affected by competitors' big handset launches in the short term, and it has bounced back after every significant one thus far.
Seidenberg actually downplayed the importance of these trends, "AT&T introduces the iPhone, Sprint introduces the Pre, it stimulates the market and causes a little bit of switching. We focus on what we need to do to keep our churn rates as low as possible, recognizing we have to compete, but we don't go overboard to cause ourselves the position of worrying about the port rate as the primary issue. It is the acquisition of customers and the churn rate."
Wow, OK, how about the other equally common interpretation of a phrase like that with "like" in it, as in to list something out?
For example, saying "we'll be seeing new flavors like vanilla and chocolate" doesn't necessarily mean there'll be flavors similar to vanilla and/or chocolate, it often means you will be seeing the vanilla and chocolate flavors, since "like" is used more of a word to list something, as if you were saying "we'll be seeing new flavors: vanilla and chocolate".
So, to say "you will see devices like the Palm Pre and the cousin" can generally more likely be taken as them listing out a few devices and can very well be taken in written form as if it said "you will see devices: the Palm Pre and the cousin".
Score: -2
|I am Verizon customer who isn't switching elsewhere because I've been far more pleased with Verizon's customer service, quality of network in my area, coverage, and internet performance than I have with the competitors who I've used in the past. The only big letdown with Verizon has been the selection of phones. At present I'm using a Palm Centro, which has been fine in the past but looks ancient compared to the new large-screen modern OS phones with excellent full-featured web browsers. I'm due for a subsidized upgrade in February, and HAD been assuming I was going to be getting a Pre. This article has left me thinking that I'd better get to thinking about a contingency plan (other than switching carriers).
Unless this unannounced new Palm device is at least as nice as the Pre, I guess I'll be thinking very seriously about one of the many new Android phones. I liked the Pre because of the decent sized screen (contrast to the tiny screen on my Centro), the modern OS, and the hope that expanding WebOS to another carrier could finally spur the software development. don't want another device with a small screen, and the Pixi doesn't look like it's going to cut it for me.
Comments from Android and Pre owners -- how are you liking your phones, and more importantly, are you finding a nice assortment of apps for your phone?
Score: 1
|I agree. I'm on a really crappy Windows Mobile phone, but refuse to leave Verizon just based on the horror stories from people on the other networks. As much as the other phones have gee-whiz features, getting phone calls and being available when needed is feature #1.
I've always liked Nokia before this current phone, so I'm hoping they start to release some nice Smartphones on Verizon. I'll (well work will) pay anything for one. And I'll never go Windows Mobile again, even if I lose activesync with my Exchange servers.
Score: 1
|Who cares?
We want the Sholes.
http://onlygizmos.com/mo...-verizon-sholes/2009/07/
http://www.phonearena.co...zon-article-a_6254.html
Too good to be true?
Score: -1
|Nice. Android is starting to look very attractive to me.
Score: 0
|Yeah, I'm hoping it comes out to VZW before the end of the year. It has everything I want in a phone...touchscreen, full keyboard, apps...and it's on Verizon. Best of all worlds.
Prior to this I was looking at the possibility of the "Voyager 2" (My current phone is a voyager) for my next phone, but was also expecting the "upgrade" to be a disappointing one. Now I am looking forward to this phone and hoping VZW doesn't mess with the bluetooth/GPS as they've been wont to do in the past...(though they didn't on the latest "BeeBees", so there is hope).
Score: -1
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