Sprint Pre, Verizon Pre Plus: you basically can't buy them anymore 38
Sure, everybody who's interested in a webOS phone is probably waiting to see what HP and Palm have up their collective sleeve on February 9th, but theoretically there are still a few people around who'd like to buy a Pre or Pre Plus right now.
If you're in that camp, well, your options are getting awfully thin. In fact, they're downright emaciated:
- Sprint: You can still find the original Pixi (sans WiFi) on Sprint.com, but it's no longer on HP Wireless Central. As for the Pre, Sprint EOL'd the device last year and while Palm's site says it's available, they point you to HP Wireless Central. The original Sprint Pre is gone from that site, as teejay69 in our forums discovered today. Neither Amazon nor Wirefly have it either. In short, if you want to get a Pre on Sprint, there don't seem to be any first-party vendors selling the phone anymore.
- Verizon: The Pre Plus on Verizon is unavailable on Verizon's site, HP Wireless Central, Amazon, and Wirefly. Like the original Pre, it's solid gone. The Pixi Plus (with free WiFi Tethering!) is still available both at Verizon's site and at HP.
- AT&T: Big blue stands alone, offering both the Pre Plus and the Pixi Plus both on their own site as well as having stock in most other first-party channels.
- T-Mobile: Snicker.
Of course, the Pre 2 is still available in unlocked form if you are an AT&T user or don't mind EDGE-only data on T-Mobile. As for the Pre 2 on Verizon that is supposed to have arrived "in the coming months," we're wondering if Verizon and HP are even going to bother at this point - it's going to look pretty low-rent compared to the 4G LTE Android phones coming down the pike, to say nothing of what HP and Palm themselves have coming.
We kind of figured that HP wasn't sweating their rapidly declining marketshare, but it's a little stunning to see just how difficult it's become to even find webOS devices. Let's hope that the phones HP and Palm have in the pipeline will be available soon, because it's hard to make a comeback when you are barely stocking the shelves with your product.
38 Comments
Pretty much LL said it best... "Don't call it a come back I've been here for years!"
That would be awesome if HP adopted that for Palm on their first lineup of phones! lol
I can just imagine that commercial now!
Web OS is so far behind there is no comeback people! Get ready to become even more depressed on February 10th. I'm ready for it. I'm prepped.
I like how you can buy a Pre Plus on AT&T... I mean, I'm no Apple fan, but if you pass over an IPhone 4 and try to buy a Pre Plus, the clerk should be legally allowed to slap you and laugh you out of the store.
u can always go to ebay
Palm smartphones featuring webOS - available only at Ebay.
If you want a verizon pre plus, I was able to get one last week- when placing your order, call customer service and say you want the pre plus (the northeast warehouse had about 900+ of them left last week) and they should be able to arrange it for you. Also works through the TEP you can purchase (Asurion or w/e that insurance company is called) would only replace my Pre with a pixi, which I refused. So, I went to the verizon store, explained the situation, and a new Pre Plus was overnighted to me free of charge from the warehouse.
I got my first Palm Pre last October at a Sprint store. I guess that must have been in the last batch of Pre's they were gonna sell.
I was just thinking about this yesterday. Was at a radio shack looking at android phones and I looked around to see if there was a lonely palm pre being displayed and sure enough there wasn't. I don't believe there was a pixi either. I'm glad they're not selling 'em. I can just imagine how pissed off someone would be to buy a phone that's a year and a half old, with defective slow hardware and software that's been pretty close to unsupported for the last year or so. I hope that HP will release something awesome and sad memories of the failure that was the Pre will quickly drift away.
Why would anyone want any of those devices? They are very old and full of hw issues. It's easier to stop the bleeding now than have to restart the heart later.
HP/Palm probably wants clean shelves when the new devices hit (very soon).
can it get worse, in the perception of a regular customer marketing wise?
I worry that the EOL for my VZW Pre+ means that Asurion is going to substitute a non-WebOS phone if I ever file a claim. I would consider that a profound ripoff, and they won't answer my email about it, either. No doubt they rightfully fear the loss of my account!
Assurion tends to use reconditioned phones rather than fresh stock from VZ or the carrier being supported. They're supply situation may be drastically different than the carrier's retail effort.
why won't GSM 3g work on tmo? Aren't they a GSM carrier?
Different frequencies.
And besides, I dont think TMO has "3G" service any more.
Yes, different freqs--as in "We're going to use a frequency that no other carrier does worldwide, including our parent company!"
@ Mayo... Regret to hear that Asurion subs a Pixie ("Plus", I would at least hope...). It confirms my fears... The VZW folk I deal with have never been as accomodating as yours, so I'll expect the worst and drop the TEC from my plan... save a few bucks and much heartache later!
I wish HP would offer 1 year or more owners of Sprint Pre, discount coupons. Heck, I'll take 10 discount for each replacement. Lets see.. .. 14 x's 10 $140 off sounds great. (wishful on my part...)
Just got off the phone with sprint was told that new Palm phone was coming in in April. She told me that no pics have been released yet but that Sprint had 6 phones coming out before the end of April. which makes perfect since because s Sprint is having a conference next month.she said that was all that she could tell me but if I called back in march I could get all the info on it I want!!! Stoked
This article highlights the (only?) reason that Sprint shouldn't have passed on the Pre+ or Pre2: to keep a WebOS device in their line-up.
Most logic was something like "Well it's not much of an upgrade from Pre-. Pre- users won't typically be due for upgrade 'til June '11. We'll have the new 'super' WebOS device by then."
But, considering that Pre- is now EOL, no new subscribers, or non-Pre- w/a renewal, even have the option of choosing a WebOS device. (except woefully under-engineered Pixi-)
Sad!
the old " I was told by Sprint" line eh???? We all know they are coming and none of us know what or when so why do we kid ourselves and buy into the rumors???? I guess it is kinda fun ;)
wow,if you got 14 replacement pres I have a hell of a lot more patience than I would.
Sprint rep just told me new hp palm phone in April, said to hold tight as no pics have been released but they have six new phones coming in april and have been given new training info on all phones coming.
If you live anywhere near Cookeville TN their authorized retailer sprint store had the Pre on display for $49 still. I asked the guy there and he said its not a problem to get one ordered brand new still. Just thought id let you guys know. But who would want a Pre minus with the announcement on Feb 9th coming up lol
Does anyone else see this as a good sign? I know when I walked into the sprint store and saw the little pre- sitting next to the EVO and EPIC, it looked a little sad. Small, fat, tiny screen and Keyboard.... I mean I personally liked the form factor, but even a fan of webOS I can admit that the pre isn't the sexiest phone on the market.
Unless we get something that just plain looks 'almost' as cool as the EVO we are going to be in for another long year of hoping people take webOS seriously. We unfortunately live in a world where appearance counts.
As long as the pre, pre+, pre 2, or anything not 'EVO style' is on the shelf, webOS will die a slow and painful death.
I think as long as something good comes out EVENTUALLY webOS will reclaim some market share because having nothing on the shelf is better than having something bad on display. Right now the pre anything looks bad compared to what’s on the shelves today. So by it being gone it is better for webOS because people will not have an "ugly" underpowered phone to connect to webOS , and once the “Superphone” or anything else comes out it is sure to be an upgrade to the pre (-,+,or 2).
For what its worth Verizon definitely still has Pre+'s available through their retail stores. $129 on 1-year contract, $49 on 2 year.
Also, no hardware issues with my pre+ purchased in November, i think HP/Palm Quality Control has buckled down. Eating warranty dollars makes anyone think twice. With a 1-year manufacturer warranty i wouldn't be surprised if any defective Pre+ hardware were replaced by a new HP/Palm phone instead of the abandoned Pre+/Pixi+. (At least if you're willing to beg and plead a bit).
Anybody consider this: the reason there are no Pres, is that HP wants their name on the phone. They have to rebrand everything, batteries, covers, shiny fake mirrors. Start fresh with your product.
So, the question is...if my Pre(-) breaks and take it in the Sprint store to replace it under my insurance, what phone would they replace it with? I don't think it's fair to replace it with a pixi(-) as that one doesn't even have wifi capability.
Im sure they still have plenty of referbs. The real question is why are you paying for insurance on a Pre. Sprint will replace it for $35.00 without insurance. Insurance is only good if you loose your phone. There are also ways around that.
tmobiles a joke.
When we gonna see this Europe?
YIPPEE - I got cited!!!
Seems to me HP is directly but discretely dropping the palm name. I imagine if Verizon does actually pick up the pre 2 (doubtful) it won't have palm on it. I think HP is just prepping for a huge paradigm shift. Wipe the slate clean (no pun intended) and start fresh... New product, new name and... Wait for it... All under the HP brand.
To be honest, the Pre 2 was already low-rent when it was announced back in October
Maybe Palm Pre is dead. The new HP Palm phone is going to rise out of the darkness and be a brand new device. No more repackaging a bad desighn.
You know, given that they have a big press event scheduled for ~2 weeks from now, this could just be clearing out of supply lines of old products...
I know Apple does this: Just before they introduce new machines, their old ones become scarce. If HP is doing the same, I think this is a good sign: It likely means they will have products available _immediately_ on Feb 9.
I have replaced my Sprint Pre 4 times in the last 3 months due to technical issues, i.e, power button went out, headphone jack causes speaker to got out after alot of use, volume buttons went out, and finally microphone went out. Each time they were able to replace it in store with what they said is a brand new phone straight from HP.
HP has the Palm Pre original on their website at 299.99. Though I already have 2. While I would like a faster operation and hope 2.0 optimizes things the hard button is why I would stick with the original.
I successfully purchased, received, and activated a Palm Pre for Sprint from HP Wireless Central two weeks ago. They had a deal running where the phone was free if you were upgrading a line. Went back to look at getting a third today and it appears the offer is gone, only seeing the Pixi available for free. The Pre is still listed but has some crazy price tag on it again.