The AT&T Pre3 4G exists, but you can't have one 83
by Derek Kessler
Fri, 09 Sep 2011 5:23 pm EDT
Fri, 09 Sep 2011 5:23 pm EDT 
We just imported an HP Pre3 from the UK for review, since the flagship webOS smartphone is unlikely to ever be made available in the United States. But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t destined to be, with both AT&T and Verizon versions of the phone spotted in months past. But for all we knew those were prototypes or one-off test units.
What you see above is a shot of an actual AT&T Pre3 with 4G branding (enhanced backhaul and everything). AT&T has already cancelled their orders for the Pre3, but it’s likely many had already been built and are just going to rot in a warehouse somewhere for eternity. It’s sad, frustrating, and painful to see that device that so many webOS fans wanted sitting just out of reach.
Thanks anonymous!
83 Comments
That stinks for ATT webOS users. I'm a Sprint webOS user.
Heh just means ATT is now sitting in the same position as us Sprint peeps...
Nowhere
I am on Sprint and work for Sprint. I want one soooo bad I would get one on ATT even though my phone service on Sprint is free. :(
Yea! I would do the same, anyway, I would only pay the AT&T bill and keep my Sprint free account :)
Likewise, I would be happy to pay full MSRP, keep 2/3 of my existing Sprint lines and get a new line on ATT or verizon. I strongly considered getting a vodaphone Pre3 hoping it would work here on the verizon networks but have no way to get one delivered to me from the UK. :( Very sad...
HP should just do the right thing and have a fire sale of all Pre 3's, both CDMA and GSM. Sell them all for $99 and watch how quickly they sell out. One of the handset vendors need to go ahead and buy WebOS from HP and start building and selling handsets that look nothing like the Pres. WebOS is the most viable alternative to iOS. It just got a slow start. The ONLY reason I'm not on WebOS is that I moved from AT&T to Sprint and wasn't going to downgrade to a Pre Minus. This platform needs to be saved. The lag and the design flaws in Android are annoying. Not one single time did my Pre Plus soft reboot or have any lag. The multi-tasking was top notch.
I don't feel to bad since I got my Pre3 from Europe, but it would nice to see this phone at the AT&T store. webOS could have gotten so much popular.
I would switch to ATT for this... stupid HP, couldn't you have just waited 1 more month?
Already switched... happy with ATT, sad with HP
I'd switch to ATT in a second, If I could get the Pre3 -
ATT (and HP/palm) You listening ?????
you should feel a little bad, while you may of gotten a Pre3 from Europe (me too) we are more crippled in terms of 3G support over here with these euro phones.
Also there is a thread (which this pic is probably from) that mentions AT&T was going to get a 16GB Pre3 instead of the 8GB (or maybe they were going to get both). Stock my pre3 came with about 5.6GB of usable storage.
Then there was the cost savings of an on contract phone.. I ended up getting a Veer for a penny since I was going AT&T anyways, too bad the radio in the Veer is better for AT&T than my Pre3, since I won't be using the Veer nearly as much.
Then there's those who had to "make do" with an AZERTY Pre3 because it was either that or nothing.
So there are 4 reasons to feel bad for AT&T not getting the Pre3 even if you managed to get one from Europe(which could be lucky or stupid depending on your point of view and how much you paid!)
/
As a 10+ year customer of sprint it wasn't an easy decision to make to leave them but I have been preparing myself for the past year, so at the end of the day I did it pretty quickly for the chance to use a Pre3.
i say we get a commando team and liberate them. or wait by a dumpster.
they wont keep them in the warehouse for ever.
Where and when? Haha! I'd love to spring them from extinction. Dumb HP
I'm in!!!
wink wink nudge nudge say no more...
Count me in. I'm sure there's SOME WAY to get it on Sprint. Likely harder to do than "Franken-Pre 2", but I'm SURE it can be done.
"World Phone", ain't it?
We have the informant TopTongueBarry who'll get the guy drunk to find out where, I'm the wheelman trained on GT5, and we have a commando kar1179 who's done plenty of hours on CoD. We just need a few more gunmen to hold off the rozzers and we're set.
You don't get cheat codes in real life man.
I'm in
I'd help AT&T by paying $100 - $150 to take em off their hands. At least they can free up the warehouse space for the iPhone 5.
Win - win!
And that right there is why we will never see the AT&T Pre3. Because of the AT&T branding. This way, it's AT&T's call. Now my question is: Would it be possible to just unlock these, reflash them with a new version (without all the AT&T software) and put a new back without the logo. Unfortunately, that would cost money and HP has decided webOS is not worth that money.
I was considering going to ATT using a Pre 3 from Europe. But the stupid messaging options was one reason I didn't. Plus no warranty support that I'm aware of for this phone. But if they had the ATT-sanctioned version I might consider it. Even though I just bought a VZW Pre 2 on eBay.
What do you mean the messaging options? What is wrong there?
I'm not so sure - my guess would be test units. The fact that ATT quickly cancelled their order probably means that none of the units destined for customers were shipped yet. Of course, we don't know the planned ATT release date for Pre3 on ATT so we don't know how much lead time there was before HP pulled the plug.
I'm hoping for all the ATT fans that there are some devices out there that might show up at some point.
Thanks, again, HP, for this mess!
Why couldn't HP just wait 1 more month
Now that I think about it, I am sort of happy HP has stopping making hardware for WebOS. They are buddy buddy with AT&T because that's who they use for this company accounts. This and the new 64GB tablet is proof that Sprint and Verizon were going to be left out in the cold.
Of course the above statement assumes someone will license WebOS for new devices.
Here's the thing: Doing a GSM radio gives you more options. I can understand their rational in this. CDMA chips are a little more pricey. And only two companies use it.
Honestly, after going to South America for vacation this summer, i feel in love with GSM. Simcards rule.
damn it... i want one so badly now
I wonder if we pulled enough signatures(whatever) together could we make HP/ ATT move on having a limited run of Pre3 for the forgotten faithful. :(
I'd be happy to sign it (even though I got Sprint).
count me in! I'm going over to att.com and dropping an email.
I agree..limit them to users with webOS accounts, now that I just ordered the touchpad at qvc I really need to complete the set and replace my broken att pre+. Here's hoping they fall off the truck soon!
I so want a global HP phone. I'd take a veer, or a pre2, but neither is global and I'm out of the country all the time. I was waiting for the Pre3 on Verizon. JUST SELL ME THE DARN THING!
I want to cry. :( *sniff* waited so long only to receive nothing in return. jilted.
!@#$%%&*!!!! *s i g h*
*sadface* I just upgraded from my pre+ to the pre2 I bought cheap off ebay... But all I do at night is dream of the pre3, and the possible harmony it and my Touchpad would make!
I cant use another OS, im in love with webOS... AND I AGREE, I think they should limit them to those with webOS accounts already!
But im kinda glad I got my Touchpad on release day! $50 mail in rebate, $50 in free apps, bestbuy resold me my Touchpad at the firesale price and put the difference back on my card! AND got my money back on the protection plan!! Other than now having to be ultra safe with it, I'm rather pleased!.... just sell me a pre3 and i wont burn down
I wonder exactly how many were made? They were awfully close to bringing them to market at AT&T, and probably Verizon not long after that so they had to have made a decent amount. I sure would like to buy this phone.
HP leadership must be a bunch of retarded fools!
HP... YOU FOOLS!
I seriously want to know what's happening inside those heads of theirs... What's their thought process?
"...it’s likely many had already been built and are just going to rot in a warehouse somewhere for eternity."
This makes no sense. This isn't E.T. for the VCS, this is something people actually want to buy!
People also wanted to by the EV1
Amen... sad story, but I did get to drive one! once. :(
Ughh!!!!! I was ready to switch from Sprint to AT&T or Verizon to get the Pre 3. So frustrating.
Can we start a petition to get HP to sell the Pre 3 stock that's left?
I'm serious.
I'd sign it.
Where does all this Pre 3 worship come from? What makes so many WebOS fans believe this is finally the one that gets it right? It is a repeating story. The greatest phone/pad is the one that hasn't been released yet. How many products have been declared the first, "real" competition for the iPhone/iPad months and weeks before they were released, only to fizzle to nothing once on the shelves? All of them!
The JooJoo was going to be the one, until it was released. Then, it was the Courier. Remember that bit of vapor ware? Ah, but the Slate was coming. A real tablet that could do real work. Poor Slate. No, the Galaxy Tab would be the first real competitor. Nope. The Motorola Xoom would put the upstart iPad in its place. Right. Announced well in advance, everyone knew it would be the PlayBook that would take the iPad down. Foolishness! The only true competitor would be, wait for it… the HP TouchPad. Hahahahahahaha!
Yes, I know we are talking about a phone, but the pattern is the same. Now, everyone is irrationally convinced that the P3 is the one that finally got it right. That is only because it hasn't really been released. Because it will never be released, it will live as the greatest phone ever made, the iPhone killer that never got a chance to shine. And everyone around here would sell a kidney to get the phone that could have made WebOS a contender.
And this is the community that calls iDevice users, sheeple. The comedy just never stops around here. Please, keep it up. Reading this site is one of the best parts of my day. I wonder if rationality will ever return.
Cool story bro.
Where did you get the image that we're convinced Pre 3 would get it right?As a WebOS fan, I understand it's a long shot for WebOS to beat ios, android or even Blackberry, but what's wrong with wanting its flagship phone?
At least you're right about one thing. Yes, we're talking about a phone, not a tablet. And yes, all those tablets you mentioned failed to take down ipad. But did Samsung, HTC, Motorola and RIM all fail in their smartphone business?The answer is obviously "No."
That's why I believe HP made a dumb decision giving up WebOS so fast, they should have waited till Pre 3 is marketed.
Frankly I could care less if anyone thinks or doesn't think the Pre3 is the next/last/final iPhone killer blah blah blah. I had a early palmOS smartphones, 2 Centros , 2 Pre-'s, an EVO, an Epic, got an EVO3d yesterday, played with a Veer. Yet my Pre- is still my main phone, the androids are just for monkeying around with.
I simply prefer webOS substantially over the other platforms and would thus like to have a Pre3 (faster, dual cameras, solid build) to replace my aging Pre-. I would trade you my ipad2, EVO 3d, Epic, and an HP tablet PC this instant (exaggerating slightly) for a Pre3 because I carry my phone all the time and it would get far more use than those other devices.
Why the heck did HP start with the unusual Veer when their base needed to replace their aging flagship phones with the latest flagship? Only after one has a Pre3 would it be likely that user would add complementary devices like the Touchpad or Veer. It's just nerve racking what has transpired.
"Only after one has a Pre3 would it be likely that user would add complementary devices like the Touchpad or Veer. It's just nerve racking what has transpired."
EXACTLY! Thanks Dolio!
I've been saying that all along - that first and foremost they needed to focus on making a really killer phone with webOS, putting all the resources necessary to make one that's not as-good, or almost-as-good, but GREAT and AHEAD of the curve and the competition - HP had the resources to do that! With the most advanced phone on the market, THEN they would gain significant market share... and a market base who would really want the companion tablet!
We all wanted primarily a GREAT PHONE first and foremost!
The plan for webOS synchronization across devices and cloud was BRILLIANT, they just executed with the WRONG DEVICE first! So sad and frustrating. Yes, stupid corporate leaders... (Sorry for getting off on a rant.)
There have been reviews of the Pre 3 that indicated that it was better build quality than the Pre 2, which was better than the Pre Plus, which was better than the original Pre. We have WebOS 2.1 on the Pre Plus, so WebOS 2.2 on the Pre 3 would be a bit better, larger screen, slightly larger keyboard, etc.
Most of the people here are already huge fans of WebOS on a current WebOS phone, so wht makes you think that WE would find it not to be better than our current devices?
There is a huge difference between expecting it to be better than what we currently use and love, it is another thing to think that it would beat the iPhone or Android in terms of popularity.
So, what we want is something better than what we have currently, and the Pre 3 clearly would live up to these expectations. If you prefer WebOS, then the Pre 3 really would be an awesome phone.
Now, the reason iDevice users, sheeple, is because many of them bought their devices, not because they tried them out and found them to be better, but because they bought into the Apple hype.
Some people really like iOS, so they will stick with iOS devices. Others prefer Android, and WebOS fans prefer WebOS. I fully expect that if the iPhone 5 were cancelled right now, that you would have riots in the streets from iOS fans who wanted to buy the next iPhone, and that is what you see here.
You want rationality, there you go. WebOS does many things RIGHT, from notifications to having synergy to bring together SMS/MMS, e-mail, addresses, phone, and social networking. This allows for the address book to allow you to contact someone in ANY of these ways in a very clean and neat way. WebOS does things the way I need them for my business, better than the way any other OS currently does. It may not be better for EVERYONE, but for me, it is, and for many people it is. If HP released the Pre 3 back in May, you might see a much different situation right now.
A bit bitter are we? Sad that you aren't satisfied with your BlackberryOS, iOS, Android??
All of us webOS fans knew the pre3 wasnt an iPhone killer! I mean come on, just looking at the iPhones' hardware makes me drool!! But I feel for all iOS users, they really don't know what an amazing OS is!
Just look at some of these posts, most of us are using palm hardware thats falling apart, laggy, buttons dont work, wiggly, and sliding, with internals that are less than impressive, BUT WE DEAL WITH IT!! SO OBVIOUSLY IT ISNT THE HARDWARE WE ARE DRAWN TO!! its the OS! when talking to my roommates about their shiny new iDevices, they know nothing about webOS, but giving them a quick run down leaves them feeling SHEEPISH!
Yes, Ive been tempted by Android! But an UGLY UI and also laggy software, I'm still back with my pre+/pre2... Sure ill give Mango a try when it comes out, but I'm almost POSITIVE ill be right back to my webOS!... soo go on, laugh away! Honestly we really don't care!
Who said anything about an "iphone killer"? All of us Pre owners just want a better, updated webOS phone. Go away.
Actually most of us don't care about the competition. We all know the iSheep will keep buying their sheep pods/phones etc, it's been that way for years. I can remember when the Samsung Instinct was supposed to be an iPhone killer and it was rubbish. Now since the Palm Pre came out with webOS we all fell in love. This love will last until the next revision of a webOS device comes out and so on. We just want our new hardware. Bring the Pre 3 please, at least to us original webOS users who can not bare to leave webOS. Unfortunately I left my Pre - and I still hate my Android phone more and more everyday. I'm so glad I got my Touchpad :-)
That's just wrong.
I'm on T-Mobile with a Windows phone. With the plausible AT&T take over of TMobile I though this sucks but hey I could switch to the Pre3... Now I am looking at two things that blow, AT&T taking over T-Mobile and ruining my plans with higher cost but now HP has ruined the only silver lining by dropping the Pre3. Excuse my French but they both BLOW. Time comes I'm heading to Verizon (not Sprint as they had a hand in sinking the original Pre. Probably get another Android phone (I rocked the G1 on T-Mobile)BUT would rather have the Pre3 to go with my TouchPad. You hear the Verizon, I'd prefer a Pre3 to a Bionic...!!!
I wonder if HP would sell the specs to a third party that would manufacture the pre3?
I wish I had $100 million, I'd manufacture them, with an updated CPU and larger battery and probably make a killing on it. A key would be that if carriers didn't want to SELL the phone, I'd offer my own financing as well, make it so people could buy one for $20/month for two years, and that would probably sell fairly well.
AAAGGGGHHH I want a Pre 3 world phone on Sprint!!!!!! Stupid HP, Idiot Leo Apo...whatever!!!
can't they just send them back to HP and then HP can have their own fireside sale again. Maybe even unlocked.
if there was any significant number of these made, they'll be sold eventually. Probably directly by HP, though they will have to get approval from at&t.
I'm hoping there's some stash of Verizon pre3's somewhere too.
Here's an interesting though experiment. HP should look at their "Palm Profiles" and see how many people are still or were recently still using older Pre/Pixi devices. Send them all an invitation to upgrade to the Pre3, there is there instant core consumer base. They must know that those of us still rocking 2 year old devices are hanging on for the new one and would buy it up in an instant. What is wrong with those guys? Are there really that few of us with older devices, don't they think we would sell our friends on the latest Pre3 were it available to us? Sigh..
HP is simply too dumb. They haven't done a single smart thing since they bought Palm. I am pretty sure I am crazy since I keep hoping and dreaming. Hello. My name is Kelly and I am a webOSaholic.
Hi Kelly! I'm Dave, and I am a webOSaholic!
Hi there!
I'm chris and I'm a webOSaholic without webOS. :(
I am relieved to see that I am not the only webOSaholic :)
-Hi. My name is Ryan, and I too am a WebOSaholic.
-I agree with you also, Dolio. They could likely check out the "Palm Profiles" and see, but I don't think they will, sadly.
To be honest, wouldn't that also be a (slight) invasion of privacy? Not that I'm complaining, I'm just saying.
If they'd be willing to do that offer, I'd be ALL FOR IT!
I'm sure we all agreed to receive occasional information from Palm/HP when we signed up for our Palm profiles. How difficult would it be for them to send an email and say "Greetings, would you be interested in upgrading your $old_device to a new Pre3, just click here..."
Two options:
Either HP knows the number of users it has of various palm devices and decided that this was not sufficient to support a business....or the WebOS team was so inept that they never made a proper case for their own future.
I've worked at a few places now where divisions had to make the case for keeping them operating after they were bought by new companies. The guys who got closed down assumed that "everyone knows" their value, while the guys who stayed open made their case and provided a coherent business plan to their new owners.
"Everyone knows" is how you wind up sowing anarchy in Iraq, not how you run up a successful business.
I know its been said before...
Cant we convince HP to make an exclusive run of 16-32GB PRE 3's for the members of Precentral?
im sure that with the right price we can generate thusends of sales from members alone.
i know this will go a long way towards appeasing some very pissed off people...
Anyone for a Precentral exclusive 16-32 GB unlocked Pre 3 with Precentral branding?
That would be awesome, as mentioned earlier maybe just a matter of replacing all the ATT branded back covers, even just as simple as slapping a new $0.05 sticker over the top of logo... Anyway, I'm Dolio and I'm a WebOSaholic too.
Most of us wouldn't care if there was an AT&T logo on it anyway, we could just do a WebOS Doctor on them to clear the AT&T software to a normal unlocked version.
HP is lucky I don't work for them. I would be the voice of the people and be I their ear everyday telling them, why can't the people get the Pre 3. Why cant we sell them in the US, why are not making the hardware for WebOS. Why do our commercials SUCK!!!
I've seen people do that, for one to two days before they were fired.
So close - So very close! I switched from Sprint to allow my Pre die and moved to AT&T for a HP Veer. I have to say, it's a nice phone and waiting for the WebOS upgrade to match with my TouchPad. But the Pre 3 would still be the ticket.
I don't know if someone ever read my posts but I'll like everyone read this.
the only way to get them back to webOS is hurt them money wise
So let's start to not buying nothing from hp but nothing at all.
Twit this, talk to you friends and family, your boss ....
If they dont make money they will listen to us.
Come on let's HURT THEM BACK
umm, a majority of their customers doesnt give a **** about some web-whatS? Also, they're already **** their PC division, etc. So unless you're some mega corporation/ business, it doesnt matter
YES! i like it!
I'm Evyn and I'm a "webOSaholic"
maybe this is what hp meant when they said they would make it right for us pre-minus holders...
Pre-minus holders indeed! Move on man! there comes a time in everythings life cycle that you have to get rid of it. I dumped my pre- a long time ago and jumped on to Android. trust me you'll be happy you did. I don't feel bad for pre- users, becuase trying to wait for palm/hp is like being in a abusive relationship, where you keep thinking "they don't really mean to hit me. he/she really loves me and thats why he/she acts like that!"
MOVE ON! In the tech world the grass is greener on the other side. android/ios/bb. they all have their strengths and weaknesses. you just need to find the right one for you. because like Rick Pitino said "Larry Bird is not walking through that door, fans. Kevin McHale is not walking through that door, and Robert Parish is not walking through that door. And if you expect them to walk through that door, they're going to be gray and old." webOS users: Samsung is NOT walking though that door. HTC is not walking though that door. HP/Palm IS NOT WALKING THOUGH THAT DOOR! And if you expect HP/Palm to walk though that door you'll end up being gray and old! Good luck pre- users!
I know, I use iOS now and it's very well done, but some stuff I don't like that much, I would still possibly prefer webOS over the others. it does what I value right, paticuarly multitasking. Now on iOS, it may have some form of multitasking, and it works OK, but it's clunkier with the double tap and just showing the icons. Also, since iOS is meant to be used by the kind of person who doesn't need/want to know how to use the fancy stuff, it takes some liberties I do not like. I'm still somewhat afraid to leave an app because iOS might decide to quit the app, losing data/streaming media, etc.
I think webOS is cooler to use and more functional (at times)
and functionality doesn't equal how many "shut up" apps you can get.
Maybe HP should buy back Pre 3's from ATT, others and sell unlocked online at unlocked prices. Doesn't help me much as I'm verizon but that would make some webOS users happy and keep the pulse going for a while longer.
they can just send an email using the same method they did to let us know about the $50 credit for being first pre owners.