Sprint will start selling the much-awaited Palm Pre on June 6, the embattled carrier said today. The phone, which onlookers expect could determine Sprint’s fate, will cost $199.99 after a $100 rebate. Best Buy, RadioShack and certain Wal-Mart stores will sell the Pre, along with Sprint’s online store. Buyers will also need to purchase an Everything Data plan for $69-$99, as our sister site jkOnTheRun notes.
The Pre is being viewed as a potential make-or-break rollout for Sprint. Along with cutting 8,000 employees, the carrier is still losing subscribers at a time when competitors are adding them. The Pre is also seen as a potential rival to Apple’s dominant iPhone. Palm has a lot riding on this device as well. It’s a classic case of where the CEOs of the two companies are hoping that one plus one equals eleven. (Related: Can Pre Save Palm From Being Put Out to Pasture?)
The launch comes ahead of Apple’s expected introduction of a new iPhone, which many expect to include a lower price tag. BusinessWeek has suggested AT&T may be preparing to cut its data prices to entice more iPhone subscribers.
I currently have a black berry pearl 8100 with T-mobile, due to problems I have been facing (on my 3rd broken 8100) I am considering going with another provider. Sprint was my first provider in 1998 and they did not have at the time the coverage that I required so I went with T-mobile, later found out they were cheap but not reliable. Do you think a switch to sprint and to this phone would be wise?