Palm Pre Plus
| Industry | Consumer electronics, Telecommunications |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1992 |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Smartphones, mobile devices, webOS platform |
The Palm Pre, presented as palm prē, is a multitasking smartphone developed and sold by Palm. It marked the debut of Palm's Linux-based mobile platform, webOS. This device integrates a multi-touch display with a sliding keyboard and supports functionalities such as a camera phone, portable media playback, GPS navigation, personal information management, along with built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity.
Initially released in the United States on June 6, 2009, through Sprint Nextel and subsequently in Canada via Bell Mobility, the Palm Pre later expanded its reach to Europe and Mexico using GSM carriers within the same year. The enhanced Palm Pre Plus model, which doubled both RAM and storage capacity, was introduced on January 25, 2010, via Verizon Wireless and became available on AT&T Mobility in May 2010. The third iteration, the Palm Pre 2 equipped with HP webOS 2.0, was unveiled in October 2010.
The Palm Pre set a record as Sprint’s fastest-selling phone at launch and garnered broad praise for its innovative hardware design and software features.
History and availability
Apple accused the Pre of imitating aspects of its user interface, with then-COO Tim Cook declaring, "we will not stand for people ripping off our IP." Palm countered by asserting they possessed sufficient legal protections through their extensive patent holdings.
On May 19, 2009, Sprint and Palm jointly announced the Pre’s launch date as June 6, 2009. Later, on May 28, Verizon Wireless revealed intentions to offer the Pre "in about six months," though Sprint retained exclusive rights within the U.S. throughout 2009. Sprint CEO Dan Hesse indicated the exclusivity period would exceed six months but did not specify exact timing.
On July 7, 2009, Telefónica secured exclusive distribution rights for the Palm Pre across the UK, Spain, Ireland, and Germany on O2 and Movistar networks, aiming for availability before the winter holiday season. On July 27, Verizon COO Denny Strigl confirmed Verizon’s plan to release the Pre in early 2010.
Sprint’s initial sales of the device broke records for a phone debut, with estimates suggesting about 50,000 units sold on launch day and up to 100,000 during the first week. Nevertheless, sales figures in July and early August did not meet projections.
On November 11, 2009, Palm announced that the device would be available in Mexico through exclusive carrier Telcel, with sales commencing November 27.
Pre Plus
Introduced at CES 2010, the Palm Pre Plus offered upgraded specifications including increased storage of 16 GB (doubling from 8 GB), RAM boosted to 512 MB, elimination of the center button, and a redesigned back cover compatible with the Touchstone wireless charger. The keyboard and sliding mechanism were also improved. Initially launched exclusively alongside the Pixi Plus on Verizon Wireless in the U.S., Palm subsequently announced distribution through AT&T. O2 introduced the Pre Plus on May 16, 2010, pricing it at US$149.99 with a complimentary Touchstone charger offered to new customers.
Pre 2
On October 19, 2010, HP unveiled the Palm Pre 2 as the third-generation model running HP webOS 2.0. It featured a 1 GHz processor, 512 MB of RAM, a 5-megapixel camera, Adobe Flash Player 10.1 Beta support, and rugged hardware including a Gorilla Glass display. The device launched in France (October 2010; SFR), Canada (December 2010; Rogers), and the U.S. (February 2011; Verizon), also available unlocked directly from HP. Verizon subscribers gained access to Skype Mobile for calls and messaging under webOS 2.0. In December 2011, HP released 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, launched alongside the Veer and TouchPad devices. It came with a 3.58-inch touchscreen display, supported 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi standards, and included a 5-megapixel camera. Its availability was limited, briefly appearing in the UK market before being discontinued; in the US, it was primarily accessible through employee sales.
Display and input
The original Pre model is equipped with a 3-megapixel camera that features an LED flash.
Connectivity
Depending on the region, the Pre offers high-speed network access via EVDO Rev. A or UMTS HSDPA. It supports 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and Bluetooth version 2.1+EDR with A2DP for stereo headset compatibility. The device includes A-GPS functionality with turn-by-turn navigation; however, Verizon customers experience limitations on aGPS usage. Data transfer and charging are handled through a microUSB port compliant with USB 2.0 standards, while audio output is provided by a conventional 3.5 mm headphone jack. Although Bluetooth DUN protocol is present, Sprint restricts tethering capabilities; conversely, Verizon permits tethering through its Mobile Hot Spot feature. Enthusiast developers have created patches that enable tethering applications for Sprint users.
Storage capacity
The Pre offers 8 GB of internal flash memory, approximately 7.4 GB of which is available to users, without support for expandable storage. The Pre Plus variant increases internal storage to 16 GB.
Charging
Charging options for the Pre include the supplied microUSB cable or an optional proprietary wireless charging accessory known as the "Touchstone Charger." This wireless dock requires a compatible back cover, which is sold separately for the original Pre but included with subsequent models.
User interface
webOS utilizes a "cards" metaphor for multitasking management and supports multi-touch gestures to navigate the touchscreen interface. The Pre incorporates a portrait-oriented slide-out physical keyboard; it does not have an integrated virtual keyboard by default, though third-party patches can enable one.
Synergy
The Synergy feature in webOS consolidates contacts and information from various accounts such as Gmail, Yahoo!, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Microsoft Outlook via Exchange ActiveSync. This integration was considered innovative and a major selling feature but received criticism for merging contact details indiscriminately—for example, importing Facebook birthdays as contacts.
Synchronization
Rather than employing a traditional desktop sync client like Palm's HotSync, the device relies on cloud-based synchronization services. Palm referenced methods for syncing with desktop applications including Palm Desktop, Microsoft Outlook, and IBM Lotus Notes. Additionally, third-party companies such as Mark/Space, Inc. and Chapura developed desktop synchronization tools for Mac and Windows platforms respectively. Palm also offered an online resource to assist users with migration and syncing processes.
Data collection by Palm
Former Debian developer Joey Hess revealed that the Palm Pre periodically transmits users’ GPS location data and application usage statistics to Palm on a daily basis. Users are given an option to disable GPS data collection during initial setup, similar to practices employed by mobile carriers and Google Maps; there is also a separate opt-out option for data sent to Google.
Reception
When it was unveiled in January 2009, five months ahead of its official release, the Palm Pre garnered favorable attention, securing accolades such as CNET's Best in Show, as well as awards for Best Cell Phones & Smartphones and the People's Voice at CES 2009.
Nonetheless, the Pre encountered several hardware challenges: a loose slider mechanism nicknamed the "Oreo Twist," which Palm later reinforced in the Pre Plus with a more durable slider; a delicate curved plastic display susceptible to cracking; defective headphone jacks; and typing issues on the Pre Plus model. Numerous reviews highlighted concerns about subpar construction quality. Engadget notably criticized Palm for failing to promptly address these hardware faults.
From the outset, sales figures were modest. Consumers voiced dissatisfaction regarding sluggish webOS updates, postponed Flash integration, difficulties with document management, and ambiguity surrounding webOS 2’s support for Palm OS emulation. By late 2010, media sentiment had turned predominantly unfavorable. Despite being Sprint’s fastest-selling handset at that time, the Pre’s sales performance was insufficient to secure Palm’s independence, culminating in its acquisition by HP.
Still, some industry analysts acknowledge the Pre’s lasting innovation even years later, crediting it with introducing features that influenced both iOS and Android platforms. Additionally, webOS was noted for enabling easier customization without the need for jailbreaking or unlocking, distinguishing it from its competitors.