Palm Pre
| Industry | Consumer electronics, Telecommunications |
|---|---|
| Products | Palm Pre smartphone, webOS platform |
The Palm Pre (marketed as palm prē) is a multitasking smartphone crafted by Palm, Inc., equipped with a multi-touch display and a sliding physical keyboard. It was the inaugural device to operate on Palm’s Linux-based mobile platform, webOS. This handset combines functionalities such as a camera phone, portable media player, GPS navigation, personal information management, and communication tools, alongside integrated Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity.
Initially launched in the United States on June 6, 2009 via Sprint and subsequently in Canada through Bell Mobility, the Palm Pre later reached European and Mexican markets with a GSM variant within the same year. The upgraded Palm Pre Plus, which doubled both RAM and storage capacity, was introduced on January 25, 2010 for Verizon Wireless before becoming available on AT&T Mobility in May 2010. The third iteration, the Palm Pre 2, debuted in October 2010 featuring HP webOS 2.0.
The Palm Pre quickly became Sprint’s fastest-selling phone at launch and garnered significant praise for its innovative hardware design and software features.
History and availability
Apple accused the Palm Pre of imitating aspects of its user interface, with then-COO Tim Cook declaring that "we will not stand for people ripping off our IP". In response, Palm asserted that it possessed sufficient legal protections through its extensive patent portfolio to defend itself.
On May 19, 2009, Sprint and Palm confirmed that the Pre would be released on June 6, 2009. Later, on May 28, 2009, Verizon Wireless announced intentions to offer the Pre in approximately six months; however, Sprint maintained exclusive rights within the US throughout 2009. Sprint CEO Dan Hesse indicated that the exclusivity period extended beyond six months but did not specify further details.
On July 7, 2009, Telefónica secured exclusive distribution rights for the Palm Pre across the UK, Spain, Ireland, and Germany via its O2 and Movistar networks, aiming for availability ahead of the winter holiday season. Subsequently, Verizon's COO Dennis Strigl stated that Verizon would begin offering the Pre in early 2010.
Sprint’s initial sales set a new record for any phone launch on their network, with estimates around 50,000 units sold on day one and up to 100,000 during the first week. Nevertheless, sales figures during July and early August fell below projections.
On November 11, 2009, Palm designated Telcel as Mexico’s exclusive carrier for the Pre, with sales commencing on November 27.
Pre Plus
Unveiled at CES 2010, the Palm Pre Plus introduced several enhancements such as elimination of the center button, increased storage capacity to 16 GB (up from 8 GB), doubled RAM to 512 MB, and compatibility with the Touchstone wireless charger via an improved back cover. Additionally, the keyboard and sliding mechanism underwent refinement. Initially available exclusively through Verizon Wireless alongside the Pixi Plus, Palm announced on March 22, 2010 plans to launch both models on the AT&T network. O2 released the Pre Plus on May 16, 2010 at a price of US$149.99 including a complimentary Touchstone charger for new subscribers.
Pre 2
On October 19, 2010, HP revealed the third-generation Palm Pre model—the Palm Pre 2—equipped with HP webOS 2.0. It featured a 1 GHz processor, 512 MB of RAM, a five-megapixel camera, Adobe Flash Player 10.1 Beta support, and more robust hardware incorporating a Gorilla Glass display. The device launched in France (October 2010 via SFR), Canada (December 2010 via Rogers), and the United States (February 2011 via Verizon), also offered unlocked directly from HP. Verizon customers received access to Skype Mobile for voice calls and messaging integrated with webOS 2.0. In December 2011, HP issued a firmware update upgrading the system to version 2.2.4.
HP Pre3
The HP Pre 3 was a touchscreen smartphone introduced by Hewlett-Packard in 2011, alongside the Veer and TouchPad models. It came equipped with a 3.58-inch touchscreen, supported 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi standards, and included a 5-megapixel camera. Although briefly released in the UK market, it was discontinued soon after launch, with limited availability in the US restricted primarily to employee sales.
Display and input
The original Pre model is fitted with a 3-megapixel camera featuring an LED flash.
Connectivity
Depending on the region, the Pre supports high-speed data connections via EVDO Rev. A or UMTS HSDPA networks. It includes 802.11b/g Wi-Fi capabilities and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR with support for A2DP stereo headsets. The device offers A-GPS functionality with turn-by-turn navigation; however, Verizon limits aGPS access for third-party applications. Data transfer and charging are handled through a microUSB port with USB 2.0 compatibility, while audio output is provided by a standard 3.5 mm headphone jack. Although Bluetooth DUN is supported, Sprint restricts tethering functionality, whereas Verizon permits tethering through its Mobile Hot Spot feature. The homebrew community has developed patches that enable tethering options for Sprint users.
Storage capacity
The Pre includes 8 GB of internal flash memory, approximately 7.4 GB of which is user-accessible, without any option for expandable storage. The Pre Plus variant increases internal storage to 16 GB.
Charging
Charging can be performed via the supplied MicroUSB cable or through an optional proprietary wireless charging accessory known as the "Touchstone Charger." This charger requires a compatible back cover, which is sold separately for the Pre but comes standard with later models.
User interface
webOS utilizes a "cards" system to facilitate multitasking and supports multi-touch gestures for touchscreen interaction. The Pre does not include a native virtual keyboard; instead, it offers only a portrait-oriented slide-out keyboard by default, although third-party patches enable an on-screen keyboard.
Synergy
webOS's Synergy feature consolidates contacts and information from multiple accounts such as Gmail, Yahoo!, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Microsoft Outlook (via Exchange ActiveSync) into a unified list. This integration was highly regarded but received some criticism due to inclusion of irrelevant data like Facebook birthdays.
Synchronization
The Pre depends on cloud-based synchronization services rather than the traditional desktop sync client used previously by Palm’s HotSync system. For users requiring desktop synchronization with programs like Palm Desktop, Microsoft Outlook, or IBM Lotus Notes, third-party tools from providers such as Mark/Space (for Mac) and Chapura (for Windows) are available. Palm also offers an online resource to guide customers through migration and syncing processes.
Data collection by Palm
Former Debian developer Joey Hess reported that the Palm Pre periodically transmits GPS location data and application usage statistics back to Palm on a daily basis. Users are given the option to opt out of sharing GPS information during initial use of the GPS function, similar to policies followed by mobile carriers and Google Maps. An option to opt out of sending GPS data to Google is also provided.
Reception
During its January 2009 debut, five months prior to its official release, the Palm Pre garnered favorable attention, securing CNET's Best in Show, Best in Category: Cell Phones & Smartphones, and the People's Voice awards at CES 2009.
Despite this early acclaim, the Pre encountered several quality concerns. The slider mechanism exhibited looseness—a flaw nicknamed the "Oreo Twist"—which was rectified in the Pre Plus model through a reinforced design. The device's curved plastic display proved vulnerable, occasionally cracking when carried in pockets, and some units experienced defective headphone jacks. Additionally, the Pre Plus was reported to have typing issues involving repeated characters. Numerous reviews highlighted subpar build quality. Engadget notably criticized Palm for hardware defects that were not promptly acknowledged or resolved.
Initial sales figures were modest. Customers voiced dissatisfaction with the sluggish pace of webOS updates and the absence of hardware enhancements. Delays in delivering anticipated features such as Flash support and document editing capabilities sparked speculation about underlying technical or corporate obstacles impeding webOS 2’s deployment and its inability to support Palm OS emulation. By late 2010, media coverage had turned predominantly critical.
Although it became Sprint's fastest-selling handset at the time, the Pre’s sales volumes fell short of sustaining Palm’s business, ultimately leading to its acquisition by HP. Nevertheless, the device has been acknowledged for its innovation, introducing functionalities later incorporated into iOS and Android platforms, as well as for enabling straightforward customization of webOS without requiring jailbreaking or bootloader unlocking.