Sprint CFO forecasts Pre shortages, iPhone impact
updated 05:40 pm EDT, Tue June 23, 2009
Pre shortages expected
Sprint CFO Bob Brust forecasts shortages of the Pre smartphone to continue for a while, while the company is still gauging the impact of the recent iPhone 3GS launch. Palm released its device several weeks before Apple's WWDC event, with analysts estimating sales of approximately 50,000 units.
"We still have a backlog of subscribers but it's not unmanageable and we get shipments every week," Brust said at an investor conference, according to Reuters. "We'll be short for a while but we're catching up."
While Palm and Sprint pushed an estimated 50,000 handsets, Apple sold over one million iPhones in the first three days of availability. "We don't see any big change since the iPhone came out yet," said Brust. The executive did admit the iPhone could still affect sales.
Although the executives declined to confirm Pre sales estimates, the CFO claims a clearer update will be provided with the second-quarter financial disclosures. It remains to be seen if the Pre will reverse the course for both Sprint cancellation rates and Palm's market share.
nice
06/23, 06:47pm reply
this is what i've been hoping for. other companies introducing compelling enough products to keep apple and AT&T on their toes, but ultimately not doing any major damage.
EternalGuest
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Joined: Mar 2009
Shortages
06/23, 07:26pm reply
Having shortages doesn't mean sales are strong. It means production is weak, which was probably done on purpose, to create a sense of cachet.
The fact that the phone is "sold out" does not mean the iPhone hasn't had an impact. I'd say the fact that Palm, formerly the biggest brand in handheld devices, is selling a small fraction (1/20th) as many of its top of the line device as Apple is selling of its competitor.
njfuzzy
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Joined: Apr 2001
Shortages
06/23, 07:27pm reply
Having shortages doesn't mean sales are strong. It means production is weak, which was probably done on purpose, to create a sense of cachet.
The fact that the phone is "sold out" does not mean the iPhone hasn't had an impact. I'd say it is a very big deal that Palm, formerly the biggest brand in handheld devices, is selling a small fraction (1/20th) as many of its top of the line device as Apple is selling of its competitor.
njfuzzy
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Joined: Apr 2001
Strange
06/25, 08:04pm reply
All of the IPK's (iPhone "killers") look the same to me and it's a little sad that Palm is resorting to misleading people about what they can do with their phone!
For example, this "iTunes sync function" they tout is the same old hack HTC users have been using for months. But, it doesn't work well enough to advertise it to the general population!
And non-geek customers looking to save a buck or two may believe the Pre has full iPhone/iPod capability! But, you can't rent movie on iTunes and watch it on your Palm Pre. You can't run the Apps from iTunes. And some of the audio formats are not even supported on a Palm Pre.
Zanziboy
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Joined: Aug 2008