O2 done with the original Pre, happy to sell you a Plus instead 41
Wed, 11 Aug 2010 12:24 pm EDT 
It was bound to happen eventually, and we’re somewhat surprised it took this long. O2 Germany has confirmed to PreCentral forum member rot that the original Palm Pre has been declared end-of-life (EOL) on the network. With the Pre Plus and Pixi Plus also available on O2 Germany, the EOLing of the older Pre was to be expected.
According to rot, while O2 will continue to replenish their supply of Plus devices, they have no intention of ordering any more original GSM Pre after their current stockpile runs dry. So, if for whatever reason you still want one, you can get one. And it’s sold as a bundle with a Touchstone back and charger (the Plus comes with a Touchstone back standard) for 240€, the same price as the Pixi Plus, while the O2 Germany Pre Plus will hit your wallet to the tune of 361€. O2 Germany is following in the footsteps of O2 UK, who quietly stopped selling their original Pre without our even noticing.
Now: wouldn't it be nice if Sprint could get caught up with the rest of the world and get some Plus action?
Thanks to rot in the forums for the heads up!
41 Comments
What about sprint ??
Being on Sprint... I have no need for them to get the Plus.
I can stay content with my original Pre as long as I am running an overclock which also fixes the TMC error.
I don't see a reason to waste my yearly upgrade on a slightly better Pre Plus, when there should be new hardware out before I would get a another credit.
So for Sprint... I don't think there is any need/concern to stock up on Plus, at least not with the intention of have the non-plus users upgrade in mass amounts.
Although it would be nice for new users.
If Sprint suddenly started carrying the Plus's, I'd panic because that would be indicative that a new device was more than six months out.
We're getting close.
".....So for Sprint... I don't think there is any need/concern to stock up on Plus......"
What an understatement! I think the better statement is, why would Sprint stock up on anything PALM right now at all??!!
WHAT New Users??!! Give me some numbers?
I see a many posts from you severely down on Sprint/Palm.
Yes there are new users that come to Sprint, does that mean they outnumber people leaving Sprint not necessarily.
I agree with many who posted that it would make sense for Sprint to phase out the Pre all together with Plus's... I just don't want them taking on the Plus and being content/portray it as a "new" phone.
Yes the Plus is better than the standard and whoever is getting the phone whether new or replacement... should probably be getting a Plus.
My only hope is that Sprint has been holding off because they know/will be getting completely new hardware before the holiday season.
Time will tell!
In a lot fewer words, and probably with a lot more clarity, you summed up what I wrote below. This is exactly what I was trying to get at: Don't bill it as "new", just have the Pre Plus, instead of the Pre, available when people purchase or replace their broken/dead devices.
If they did that, I'd probably finish breaking my Pre, just for the sake of getting a Plus to tide me over till the nextgen comes out.
Actually, I love SPRINT (still with them) and I STILL believe in WebOS. But.... well you know..
Just to Clarify
You are quite clear. Quite consistant. Quite the antagonist, but never constructive. A third nipple as the case may be.
agreed...what the hell is taking sprint so long to get the plus?? I'd gladly upgrade my launch pre for the extra memory and ram. Guess I'll just have to wait for the next palm phone...whenever that will be...*sigh*
If the next Palm device is to be Wimax, there might be a longer gap for non-CDMA carriers until something new comes out. So O2 can carry the beefed up Pre for a while, until the next gen is ready to release.
yeah, if HP is completely retarded, they gonna do it the same "USA > world" way palm used to think.
Seems foolish to compare the world's most successful tech company to a small, problem riduled company. I've not seen much evidence that Palm neglected international markets. They gotta launch somewhere first. And they've catered to their most successful market. Shame that the rest of the world, does not seem very interested in developing apps for their local users. The international users got many of the upgrades much sooner after lauch than the US buyers, but those lucky dogs have still bitched and moaned about it like they waited three times longer.
Palm released the phone in 6? countries outside US,hardly not neglecting the international markets....
I agree that we were very lucky getting some upgrades first, but that is about it.
A few examples? 6 months for get the phone, not able to access US free apps, another 6 months for getting paid apps, no half price apps and the list goes on...
Yes, please, Sprint needs to follow O2's example. As much as I want a new device, I'd be happy with a Pre Plus right about now.
Thats like saying... "Yes can I please SuperSize my pile of fecal matter"
I'm just saying!
Third nipple.
HA HA!!!
And what about Movistar?
My Pre died and they are going to replace it.
They don't physically give you the new device, they give you enough "points" for get a new device for free.
I'm willing to wait a few weeks if I could get a Pre Plus instead (plus a few
People, the Pre Plus isn't that great. Do not be upset cuz ur wtih an original Pre. My Verizon Pre Plus is sometimes slow even with overclocking. There are a few advantages to the Pre Plus, but not much.
I do not think getting the Plus on Sprint will make a difference. I think that they need new hardware and new stuff to tempt people to the service. I know I am not willing to fork over another $199 for a plus just to have extra memory and wifi hotspot app. Doesn't seem worth it to me. It is new hardware or bust for me. If I don't see new hardware or some real game changing software it may be off to android land for me. Voice to text task manager is pretty awesome and so is PTT with other android users. Google seems to be setting the curve pretty high with development of their stock apps. I haven't seen any updates to the stock apps since we have had camcorder ability and IMO that should have been there from the start. We need more development support everything you see either has an Iphone or Android App - no mention ever of WebOS. WebOS is not even on peoples radar.
New Hardware and game changing software needed please.
Sprint's decision to never move to the Plus is one of the few reason I have left to hope that they will be first with whatever new device comes out.
Who wants to buy the same old piece of crap phone with a plus on it? I hope Sprint isn't stupid enough to try to sell that crappy phone, its bad enough no one wants buy the old one. Don't do it Sprint, the current Pre is done its time for something new.
Don't worry, they're not stupid enough to try and sell the Pre anymore. My girlfriend went into a Sprint sotre the other day to look at phones for when her Verizon contract expires next week, and the guy frankly told her not to bother looking at the Pre because it's old and there's uncertainty about the future of Palm since the acquisition (obviously doesn't read this site). The only reason she was interested in the Pre (or knew about it for that matter) is because she uses mine occasionally and really likes webOS.
In short, some Sprint salespeople are definitely steering new users away from the Pre. I don't think it's because they know a new one is coming out, I think it's because they feel it's outdated and not the best option available (EVO anyone?). One more reason HP needs to step on the gas. I'm still fine with my Sprint Pre, but with carriers not recommending the current hardware, the platform will go nowhere when a new phone is finally released.
I agree - my buddy needed a new phone and while he was looking I asked about the pre and the sales lady said it had been discontinued. She also said that she nromally points people toward an Android phone as there is more apps and it is pretty simple to use (I think the UI is a bit more confusing, but I have been using WebOS and gestures for quite a while now).
They still stocked the Pixi, but like I said they usually steer them elsewhere - blackberry/android.
I heard someone ask about the Pixi at another store and they said that they do not suggest that unless someone is really interested and told the person to get a blackberry instead.
So not a ton of support from Sprint, but I guess we really need to look at Palm's creepy adds and how they didn't help pre's fly off the shelf.
Well, she's selling phones for minimum wage, for most likely a Sprint franchise (very few are actual sprint stores). The knowledge and abilities of wireless employees is sadly lacking most of the time. They tend to be geared towards whatever is highly advertised on TV that month.
o2uk stopped giving them out for insurance claims a couple of months ago. They can't even give them away free here in the UK. The Pre Plus isn't moving either. Lets face it. They are terrible phones with a number of flaws and look at the app store. Not looking good. I do hope though that a new phone is let loose but it would have to be very very good and the app store would have to improve if i was to think of coming back to a WebOS device.
HTC Desire HD is on it's way and it looks very very very good and as with phones made by HTC it will be a good one. Palm / HP also have Samsung and the like to battle it out with and that won't be easy.
With the widespread release of 1.4.5, I think the app catalog will pick up. There are already some developers interested in porting PDK apps over to webOS, so I think it's a matter of time until the quality and quantity picks up.
jaybee, the key word in your comment is "some". Sure there will be "some", but what HPalm needs is "tons" -- tons of users and the tons of apps will follow. Without the tons of users webOS is doomed to a life of a niche OS.
Let's all remember that Beta was better than VHS and OS/2 was better than Windows. Marketing and volume drives business, not necessarily who is the "best".
Very true, but "some" interest is better than none. It's a feedback loop: developers start porting apps and designing webOS specific apps, the 1 million + webOS users like them and buy some of them (I've seen some estimates somewhere), developers start making more apps, new developers come in, etc. That's how it worked for Apple. It took them a year after the launch of the iPhone to roll out the app store, and the first apps were shit. Then developers realized people would pay for good ones, and the rest is history. With webOS, factor in the push that HP is making internally and externally to attract developers, and the framework is there.
HOWEVER, all this depends on getting new users into the ecosystem (like you mentioned), which won't happen unless you can entice them with quality, flashy hardware. So until something new and shiny comes out, this is just an exercise in hypotheticals. Because face it, no sales rep in their right mind would recommend a Pre over a hotter phone today. I think the only reason they sell anymore at all is because people go into the store knowing what they want.
Yeah, I agree, it is the only way, unless HPalm wants to keep bribing them with "Hot Apps" contests.
The problem I see is, as you say, "1 million + webOS users" is that Android activates that many phones in a week yet the Pre and Pixi (and Plus variants) have been around for over a year.
HPalm needs to do something to vastly swell the user base.
I'm going to say Sprint should take up the Plus, because if someone walks into a Sprint store now (who doesn't already have a current Palm phone), they could just buy a Pre Plus for the same price as what the regular Pre is now. And then have a slightly more modern device, rather than purchasing a completely outdated device.
I would say EOL the Pre on Sprint, replace it with the Plus for the time being, so if someone happens to show interest in purchasing a Pre, they get the better version. Also change the replacement Pres users get from insurance to Pluses, instead of the originals, so we can start phasing the original Pre out entirely. After all, all of your accessories for your current Sprint Pre will work with the Plus version, and your Palm Profile will migrate over without a problem, too. So why not?
Obviously, everyone is waiting for new hardware, but if someone happens to go to a Sprint store looking for a new phone and shows interest in the Pre, why give them an ancient device? And if someone needs to use their insurance because their phone died, they should be able to get the more modern version, too. I don't see any reason to restrict potential customers to old hardware, when updated hardware is available if someone wants it. It isn't any worse than buying a regular Pre.
".......so if someone happens to show interest in purchasing a Pre......"
Who exactly fits this criteria... I'd like to meet one of them. Who in "2010" who's looking to UPGRADE their phone would even consider the notion of a Palm PRE. What Sprint Salesman would even recommend it?
I'm not saying they would. That's why I said "if". If for some mysterious reason you go to Sprint (or even online, say, where there's not a person to annouce "yea, this phone is older than dirt, don't bother") and want to buy a Pre, would you rather have the regular or the Plus? Why not be able to get the Plus, for the handful of people that for whatever reason may still buy one?
The reason for someone buying one is this:
They already are aware of WebOS and refuse to pay more money for less services.
You can argue all you want about hardware, but when it comes to bottom line what you get for the money on services/unlimited.. you can't beat Sprint.
If you are a regular World traveler, then Sprint probably isn't for you... but it is most likely cheaper to just get a disposable phone in whatever country you are visiting.
Now before I say this, rest assured that I'd never do anything immoral but... if my Palm Pre got damaged, would this mean I'd receive a Palm Pre Plus as a replacement?
Depends on if they have a reserve of Pre's sitting around. And I'd guess they do for a while at least.
in my hypothetical situation, yes. If your Pre broke and you sent it back for replacement, you'd get a Plus in return.
Would you accidently break your Pre in hopes of a Pre Plus replacement if you knew you risked geting a recondition Pre?
That I would not. If I knew for sure I was getting a Plus, maybe.
Even a new device will struggle. It would have HP on it and they aren't known for selling good phones.
If you have ever worked a commission / minimum wage job, you would know that you sell whatever product will make your paycheck the highest. Don't ever trust a salespersons opinion, research the product you want to buy and make that decision for yourself.
Dedicated Palm users know what they are buying and tend to never buy anything but a Palm. Palm users tend to be more secure in everything they do and don't spend all day worrying about the BS that is talked about here.
They know that Palm will continue to make a device that is leading in technology and when it's time to upgrade it's time. They don't have to worry about whos best because they know if they are using a Palm device they can depend on it to do exactly what they bought it for.
Just saying......