Sprint Already Naming "Store Advocates" for the Pre. 25

In case you hadn't heard, Sprint is in pretty dire straits and needs the Pre to be a game-changer for them.  So they're throwing everything behind the Pre -- indeed, they've already begun in the form of a clever ad campaign.

Sprint has a couple of other programs that will help position them to make the Pre launch a success.  First up is the "ReadyNow" program.  The upshot is that when you go into a Sprint store to purchase a Pre, they won't let you walk out until your email, contacts, and calendar are set up.  Heck, they will sit down with you and explain how Synergy, Cards, and the notifications bar works too.  The upshot is that when you leave, you're fully ready to use your Palm Pre to the utmost.  It help you learn how to use the phone and, frankly, it helps Sprint by dropping return rates down to lower levels.

There is another, less well-known practice at Sprint.  They name "Store Advocates" for their top-tier devices.  Essentially each store has an employee who becomes the go-to expert for a given device.  Concurrently with the rumor that Sprint has already begun training for the Palm Pre with Sprint employees, Darth Pooh lets us know in the forums that Sprint is already naming Store Advocates for the Pre as well. 

Here's the teeth-gnashing part, according to what we know of the program and to VaccPalm, Store Advocates typically get their phones a little bit earlier than the release date so they have time to bone-up on all its ins-and-outs.  So while the best-case release date right now appears to still be May 17th, these Store Advocates may be getting their learner-units earlier.  Heck, they may be getting them within the week.

They will, but you probably won't.  Try not to rend your garments.  The Pre is coming.  Soon.