Tag: sprint (Page 2 of 3)

Sprint Offers Pre Converts $100 Credit

The Palm Pre.Just three months after launching the Palm Pre, Sprint is offering a $100 service credit to new Pre customers on its network. The credit essentially cuts the price of the phone in half, which isn’t a bad deal. It’s not the first time the Pre has come down to the $100 price point, but it does show just how badly Sprint wants new customers to get the phone in their hands.

I think it’s a decent strat, too. The Pre isn’t my phone of choice, mostly because the differentiators don’t really matter to me. The keyboard, though physical, is way too small for my hands, and I don’t really need multitasking, especially for a phone that doesn’t have many apps. For a first time smartphone owner, though, the Pre is really a great choice. The OS is quick and easy to navigate, includes a decent camera, and has all the basic smartphone functions you need. You can also get a full data plan cheaper than with most Blackberry devices or the iPhone.

It’s no secret that Sprint needs customers, and it needs to retain those customers. Offering solid deals in the midst of a recession is an almost sure-fire way to get a few converts. You can get the deal by signing a two-year contract with Sprint before October 31st. The credit will be spread across three months.

Palm’s Pre Can’t Plug Sprint’s Leak

Sprint's having a rainy...year.Sprint’s just posted their second quarter numbers and it doesn’t look great. The company may be doing better than a year ago today, but they’re still losing customers at what plenty would could a steady flow. Some might venture to say heavy, but I’d spend so little time around that type of individual I’d hopefully miss it.

How bout some numbers then? Dan Heese and company lost $384 million along with 257,000 subscribers. Those are some big numbers to be throwing around, especially since next month won’t likely get much better. That’s when we’ll see the full impact of the Virgin Mobile acquisition and the loss of Pre exclusivity, which may well be the only thing presently keeping Sprint afloat.

If you’re one of those “half-full” types, you’ll no doubt remember that just six months ago, Sprint lost a cool $1 billion along with a million customers. I’d be interested to hear you have to say next month. “At least they’re not Vonage?”

Sprint Picks Up Virgin Mobile

Virgin Mobile is no more.Today, Sprint announced they dropped a cool $483 million on Virgin Mobile. You may remember Virgin as one of the last standing boutique cell providers. They used to compete directly with Sprint’s own Boost Mobile, but no more.

Sprint plans to roll Virgin into its own Boost Mobile network, giving them a corner on the small and ever-shrinking MVNO market. The good news for Sprint is that the acquisition won’t require much work. Virgin already operates on Sprint’s network.

A company press release cited current Virgin USA CEO, Dan Schulman, for his excitement for the new brand. “Virgin Mobile USA redefined the U.S. prepaid segment when we launched seven years ago,” said Schulman. “Sprint is committed to growing its prepaid business and this transaction will provide us with the resources and opportunities to compete more aggressively, and strengthen our position in prepaid.” Let’s hope so, for Sprint’s sake. The company is having enough trouble as it is.

Sprint Takes Their First Shot

Sprint's Pre vs. iPhone ad.Remember how Palm and Sprint weren’t going to position the Pre against the iPhone? Because the Pre isn’t meant to run against the iPhone. Because it was was designed for its own subset of consumers, not iPhone malcontents. Because, because, because.

The world didn’t pay much attention to that plan, though, because frankly, the devices are similar enough for comparison and in the world of cellphones, it’s usually an either/or decision. Either I get an iPhone or I get a Pre. You get the idea.

Sprint has finally caved, taking their first shot straight at Apple’s face. They posted the ad at right on their Facebook page this week, which features the Pre leaning against a chewed-to-the-core Apple. As if they they thought the ad was a little too subtle, it also includes text like, “The Palm Pre does things the iPhone can’t. Run multiple applications at the same time with real-time updates and even save $1200 over two years.”

The ad does seem to be well timed, at least. Original iPhone contracts should be up right around now, and who knows, maybe the Pre will nab a few of those folks away from Apple, but I’m pretty unimpressed with their sales pitch. Run multiple applications? Like…all 30 of them at once? Pitching your multitasking is great if you have some sort of reasonable app selection, but 30? Why not remind people that you’ve got a full keyboard, a flash on the camera, a slick new operating system? Granted, the first two are obvious, but they’re benefits the customer will see immediately, not in six months when you finally release your SDK.

Pre Sells 50,000 Units In First Weekend

Palm Pre and accessories.There were all sorts of doubts surrounding Palm’s Pre Launch. Whether it was a shortage of hardware, a lackluster phone, or the short-term Sprint exclusivity, plenty folks had their reasons for thinking the phone would flop.

According to early reports out of the Wall Street Journal, the Pre was a bigger hit than many expected. According to the WSJ, the Pre sold 50,000 units over the weekend, marking the launch a success, at least for now. By comparison, the iPhone sold 146,000 units at launch, but as we know, the Pre isn’t the iPhone, and 50,000 units is nothing to scoff at. Still, I have to wonder, will today’s WWDC Keynote have an effect on upcoming sales?

And what of inventory? Many stores report being sold out of the phone. Some go so far as to claim the device is sold out nationwide. If a new iPhone announcement doesn’t kill the Pre, how long will consumers have to wait for the next shipment?

A JP Morgan analyst says they’re coming this week. I hope so, for Palm’s sake.

Source: ZDNet

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