O2 touts Palm Pre launch day success
updated 11:20 am EDT, Mon October 19, 2009
O2 says Pre strong, gives no iPhone look
O2's British division today said that the UK launch of the Palm Pre was successful. A spokesperson declined to say how many had been sold but told TechRadar that the carrier sold more Pres on Friday than it normally does all other phones. Many of these were also often buying one or sometimes two of Palm's Touchstone inductive charging dock.
The absence of more definitive numbers suggests that the Pre wasn't competitive with the iPhone 3GS, which created shortages at O2 when it appeared early this summer. However, its actual sales rate is expected to vary sharply from the US due to pricing practices. While Sprint had to turn to a price cut to help Pre sales in the US, the UK release is helped by O2's preference for giving away handsets for free to those who sign up for contracts of a minimum value.
Adding the Pre also restores a minor advantage to O2 this fall after it lost its iPhone exclusivity to both Orange and Vodafone.
somebody...
10/19, 01:19pm reply
came right into the store and bought one. Successful launch!
nowwhatareyoulookingat
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jul 2009
Anything over one...
10/19, 02:28pm reply
would be considered a success. I wouldn't count on Palm to ever have a successful launch with iPhone-like numbers. Go watch the Engadget show w/Jon Rubinstein as the guest. At one point he asks if there were any Pre owners in the crowd. You could have heard a pin drop in that room. You would have expected the Pre fans to show up to support their device and they didn't. Way to go guys! Oh, and another nice touch was Rubi gave away the Touchstone charger to everyone in the crowd. Really? The charger? 'Cause you know a free charger will always make someone go out and spend $200 on the Pre AND sign up for a two year contract w/Sprint. Geez. I can't wait for the Pixi launch. Palm should just strive to be the next Nokia and be successful at making cheap, disposable phones that no one really cares about.
GeneralDMac
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Joined: Jun 2009