Palm Pre launching June 16th?
By Will Park on Friday, May 15th, 2009 at 11:31 AM PST In Devices, Palm, Palm Pre, Rumors, Sprint, Web OS
While the world waits for Palm (NSDQ: PALM) and Sprint (NYSE: S) to officially announce the Palm Pre, we’ve been searching high and low for any information about the Pre’s launch. As it stands, we’re still expecting Palm and Sprint to make their Palm Pre announcement on May 19. And, thanks to a whispered tip from an unnamed 
Sprint rep, we’re hearing that the Palm Pre will go live on June 16th!
Previous rumors have pinned the Palm Pre’s launch date on June 7th, which would have the Palm Pre going live prior to Apple (NSDQ: AAPL)’s WWDC conference, where the next-generation iPhone is expected to be announced. This latest rumor has the Palm Pre launching on June 16th, which would follow Apple’s expected iPhone announcement.
It’s been widely believed that Palm and Sprint wanted to launch the Palm Pre ahead of the new iPhone. The pre-iPhone launch was presumably aimed at giving the Palm Pre time to capture the hearts and minds of smartphone users in the US, before the third-generation iPhone hits the scene and stirs up a whirlwind of hype. But, this new rumor about a June 16th launch indicates that Palm could be considered a completely different tack. Palm may wait until the new iPhone launches, give it some time to burn through some of the inevitable initial-hype, and then blitz the mobile market with the Palm Pre.
Of course, this is all speculation until we can confirm the June 16th launch date. The Sprint rep that let the June 16th launch window slip from his loose lips apparently thought the information was already public. There is, however, one critical sticking point with this rumor – the June 16th launch would go against Sprint’s Sunday-launch tradition (June 16 is a Tuesday).
We’ll keep our ears to the ground for more info on the Palm Pre!
When I spoke to a rep I was told before the 11th of June
This article dosn’t make a bit of sense at all! No need for anymore comments on this.
That would just piss a lot of people off if it’s true.
i was yesterday late june early july. alos that it would not be a national luanch ie the northeast part of the counry would get it sooner than others
Hey, look, I can do it to. My rep said June 30th. And if you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you. Apple is not going to launch the iPhone the same day they announce it. That would be a bad move for all sorts of reasons, like, they won’t be able to milk the buzz marketing cow, and why not keep making software adjustments while the pre is out? Apple is going to buy one, you can bet on that. So, it really doesn’t matter when the Pre comes out.
Are you sure he didnt’ say June six—errrr–sixteenth! Yeah, that’s the ticket!
Well that is my b-day! That would be great… But why give the news on May 19th for June 16th since it is almost a month away?
This article’s argument doesn’t hold any water, mainly because its main argument rests on the iPhone 3.0 launching on WWDC, which as anyone knows it’s not the case. The most it could happen is Apple will announce a new iPhone (I personally believe it won’t be a significant upgrade, just OS 3.0, camera, capacity enhancements, et al, but that’s for another post) alongside new MBPs, etc, with an actual market launch after summer/before holidays.
However, I do believe that June 16th could still be a good move, as the Pre will have the stage for themselves by then.
And besides, as much as mouth-breather geeks (like us) want the Pre right now, Sprint/Palm will launch it when they think it’s the time.
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The doesn’t make sence…why did you write this? If this happens…people will already have bought the iPhone. It has to come on the Now Network “Now.”
i tell u what if sprint keeps playin imma go to at&t to get the iphone. this whole palm pre anticipation is just a damn mess
And my Sprint rep says it will be late July or early August. It’s all guesses & lies. Wait for the WSJ ad next Tue. But why am I reading these articles? Because I WANT MY PRE! and NOW!
This is driving me nuts. I hope Palm is happy. I think I am, but I’m confused.
On other notes- the cost. Sprint is giving away two Pre’s with a year of free service. If you read the rules they value the package at $1800. Deduct $1200 for the service, $70 for the Touchstone. Full value retail price of the phone ends up at ~$530.
Why does everyone claim Sunday to be sprints magic launch day? Sprint hyped the original instinct and launched it on a friday…. WTF with this sunday attention?
This is NOT True – Guaranteed! Sprint store managers don’t even know, yet.
The Palm Pre seems like old news already….they waited too long on this one.
It doesn’t matter to me…. I could hold out another week or so I’m leaving att as soon as this Pre comes out.. Can’t stand att in my area…!!
Hopefully some info in WSJ on Tues…