Palm Selling Phones Sans Service Plan, Still Doesn't Have Dev Phone 27
Attention developers and consumers with money to burn: Palm has expanded its online store to include the sale of phones without contract. As expected, the phones are still locked to their respective carriers, but it doesn't take a stretch of the imagination to envision Palm selling the GSM variants of its phones through their online store after they finally launch on AT&T. As far as price is concerned, expect to pay the same amount to Palm as you would to the respective carriers for the phone without contract - $599 and $549 for the Pre on Verizon and on Sprint, and $399 on both carriers for the Pixi.
And back to that bit about developers: while we wait for an unlocked GSM developer phone to be announced by Palm (MWC, anyone?), remember that the folks over at webos-internals have developed a tool called MetaDoctor that allows any webOS phone to run without having been activated on a cell network - even CDMA phones bought directly from Palm. Sure, you'll be relegated to using WiFi and WiFi only, but it's still an actual device you get to hack and develop on. Hey Palm - helping developers skip this MetaDoctor step would be nice, you know?
Thanks to @webos_school for the tip!
27 Comments
first
At least say something witty or make a relevant comment.
This kind of inane comment bugs me more than the whole "Flash is here" thread, but I guess when you have to deal with teenagers who have to try to scramble to the front of any line...
But like dealing with my teenagers, eventually they will grow up.
They will get older, they won't necessarily grow up.
I'm sure flip34 will say the same thing waiting in line at the soup kitchen. Let him have his victory in the special olympics of board behavior.
Wise words. At least he will learn something by coming to this site.
"$599 and $549 for the Pre on Verizon and on Sprint", I don't mind those prices but here is the one in question.... $399 on both carriers for the Pixi? I though that the sprint version would be a bit cheaper since it doesn't have WiFi in it. If I were to purchase a pixi right away and pay that much I would go with verizon version instead. If I were though. I already have the Pre with sprint and loving it, (still waiting for that flash beta they said would be available as a plugin download from the app catalog but as February is just around the corner, looks like it will not happen and just wait for the webos 1.4 update).
Take into account the monthly payment difference and you will notice there's quite a difference.
True, but he is not talking about choosing a carrier, just about buying the phone. Anyway, selecting a carrier is not always about price only, just like buying a car. Two different cars will take you to the same destination, but the less affordable car may satisfy some other need.
facepalm
I'm sure the flash beta was originally supposed to be out "before the holidays" which then changed to January after CES. Not looking like we're gonna get it then, as you say cooldude100 just have to wait for 1.4
Pre-release (for phone makers) was before end of year, which did happen. I'd never seen a user release date, but Ruby did link it to 1.4 and Feb was the first date I saw for that.
I guess it's a good thing I updated the Meta-Doctor to support the Pre Plus today ;-)
-- Rod
Good thing indeed! You mean Robert W. didn't consult you first before sending boatloads of Verizon user traffic to the Meta-Doctor page? LOL.
I had heard about it before but couldn't recall what it actually did. It's great that he mentioned it. Very timely.
I'm tired of these carriers crap.
Sell a GSM-unlocked phone? Is that SO hard?
Worked for the Treos... Oh wait, now it's brilliant cause Google is doing it.
Seriously.
I just hope by 2020, there'll be Pres to buy around here.
FYI, both Sprint and Verizon are CDMA, so point is moot, "current carriers" won't do it. Don't bank on AT&T, or the carriers up here in Canada either. Try asking AT&T to unlock an iPhone, or Robbers for any phone, you'll see my point.
If anything PALM should release one. Fast. I have my money ready for one.
I'm not expecting carriers to deliver unlocked devices.
However, I expect Palm to sell me an unlocked device, if I'm ready to pay the full price. I mean, come on. The Pre was launched in June 2009. We're in Jan. 2010. There's still no talk of a Pre coming into this country.
How long should I wait? 5 years? 10?
I wouldn't care if there was any worthy alternative, but I just like WebOS. I don't want an iPhone. I don't want an Android device. I don't want a BB either. I just want webOS. My Nokia is 4 years old, bleeding to death. I don't want to have to buy another device just to wait for Palm. That's stupid.
I thought about getting a Treo Pro, but it's WinMo, and I don't want that either.
Yeah, sure, I could get an unlocked German Pre. But... Seriously... QWERTZ? - Yes I know it can be remapped.
Anyway, this is a useless rant, I know, but I'm just tired of having to play with the WebOS emulator... and of having to use my Symbian device.
I completely agree.
http://www.mobileinfoplanet.com/blog/blog1.php/2010/01/26/what-is-wrong-...
Sky-keeper, man you have a problem! Loving one phone so much and you cannot get your hands on it. I understand, I could hardly wait to get my Pre, and the first day was heaven (still loving it though!). Ha look, when you want to put together a petition to send to Palm, contact me and I will sign on. But first, you need to tell us what part of the world you are from. Thanks.
There has been some, apparently truly unlocked, Pre's in Norway
It's great that you can obtain a Pre and use Meta-Doctor to 'unlock' it, even if that means you can only use WiFi.
How would a someone test and develop an application that involves phone functionality? I recall seeing that with the emulator there is someway to simulate incoming/outgoing calls. Is there a way to do that on the physical device as well?
I went to Best Buy and the price shown was 699.99. Also, I could not find the page shown above on the Palm website, just the one stating the Verizon price.
In short of going all over the world, getting an unbranded/unlocked device is moot since carriers int he states are subsidizing the plans themselves to get you in contracts. Its also moot to say a dev phone has to be unbranded since in North America the carriers are closely involved in the phones too.
If anyone needs a GSM phone realy badly, i could send it to you from Germany. Send me pm if you need one.
We do. But Pixi Plus or Pre Plus :-)
Business 101 for Palm to market the Palm Pre!
I think Palm should also sell phones on contract and make the $300 commission people like Best Buy are getting. Palm should not be advertising to send people to Best Buy, Palm need the money to buy more Ad time (Best Buy will benefit indirectly from those Ads). I don't see Best Buy spending money on advertising!
Palm should run direct response advertising. What that means is their Ads should call people to action; in other words, provide a message at the end of the Ad that says
Good news! We are getting closer.