Palm Pre Singapore release date – 2010: UPDATE

We have some exciting news here at TECHNOMETRY.

Image via Wikipedia

But we’ll tell you that at the end of this post. Before we do, let me set the scene.  I sent another email to the Palm chap last week. It went as follows:
_______________________________________
Sent: Thursday, February 04, 2010 9:38 AM
To: ‘[xxx]‘
Subject: RE: Palm Pre Release

Hi [xxx],

I hear the Palm Pre or Pixie may be coming soon to Singapore.

Is this true? If so, what are the details? Looking forward to hearing from you.

*************************************

I havent gotten a reply back from [xxx] yet.
You may recall that my last email to [xxx], with his reply, went along these lines:

________________________________________
Sent: Monday, October 19, 2009 6:13 PM
To: [xxx]
Subject: RE: Palm Pre Release

Hi [xxx],

Thanks for the reply, and understand the situation. No worries.

Image via Wikipedia

If in the near future, you are able to release some details, would you be able to drop me a line?

Thanks again for your patience, and I hope to hear from you.

*************************************
________________________________________
From: [xxx]
Sent: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 11:14 PM
Subject: RE: Palm Pre Release

Sure

*********************************
The reason why we sent another email to [xxx]?

We have managed to get ahold of a Palm Pre and are testing it for Technometry review as I TYPE.

This means launch is imminent.

Oh dear [xxx] why did you not tell us?? You still have a chance to give us some info….. [xxx]?

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• Summary Box: Palm updates Pre, Pixi smart phones (seattletimes.nwsource.com)

Palm US Replies to Technometry, Amiably Says Nothing

Image via CrunchBase

So for all of you waiting with baited breath on the news of the release of the Palm Pre in Asia, Im happy to report a reply from the Palm US representative. C’mon, though it may be nothing, at least its something.

Read the in-depth journalism below and draw your own hard hitting conclusions…! (Read from bottom up, its an email thread, after all….!)

From: [xxx]

Sent: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 11:14 PM
To: Clifford Wong
Subject: RE: Palm Pre Release

Sure

---

From: Clifford Wong
Sent: Monday, October 19, 2009 6:13 PM
To: [xxx]
Subject: RE: Palm Pre Release

Hi [xxx],

Thanks for the reply, and understand the situation. No worries.

If in the near future, you are able to release some details, would you be able to drop me a line?

Thanks again for your patience, and I hope to hear from you.

Regards,

Clifford

---

From: [xxx]
Sent: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 12:16 AM
To: Clifford Wong
Subject: RE: Palm Pre Release

Sorry, Clifford. I can’t divulge any details.

---

From: Clifford Wong
Sent: Sunday, October 18, 2009 8:24 PM
To: [xxx]
Subject: Palm Pre Release

Hi again [xxx],

With the Palm Pre going on sale on 16 October in Europe (UK), does that mean Asia isn’t too far behind?

Would be great to hear from you and your thoughts, so I can update the readers here in Singapore/Asia on our technometry blog.

Clifford

Palm Pre in Asia – All is quiet….

______________________________________
From: Clifford Wong
Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 10:55 AM
To: ‘[xxx]‘
Subject: RE: New Tech Blog

Hey [xxx],

Hope all is well. Any details you can release yet?

Image via CrunchBase

Would be most appreciated.

Clifford

—————————————

[XXX]‘s Reply follows:

________________________

Oh yes.  [xxx] has’nt replied and doesnt look likely to.

[XXX] is the PR rep for Palm in the US. How I got his contact details is a long story. He has been keeping mum about the details for the Palm Pre since August (see posts below). And now, he just doesnt reply.

So what could this mean?

1) Palm is still trying to iron out the bugs and feedback from the market, before release into Asia.

2) Palm and telco providers are working on some type of exclusivity arrangement for the Singapore/Asia Market.

3) Palm are sitting on their hands.

I just want my palm pre release info!

http://technometry.wordpress.com/2009/09/10/palm-pre-release-in-asia-still-zilch/

http://technometry.wordpress.com/2009/08/31/palm-pre-release-asia-singapore-zilch/

http://technometry.wordpress.com/2009/08/06/palm-pre-release-date-in-asia/

Palm Pre; Release in Asia – STILL ZILCH.

Well, I can only speak for myself, but I’m kinda sick about how Apple and the iPhone are dominating.

Apple products are innovative, but the consumer benefits best when there are two top shelf competitors going at it. But my pleas for the Palm Pre as a suitable counter balance seem to be lagging further and further behind as the release date in Asia for our first glimpse of the Pre in Singapore are still lost in the murky midst.

Image by zoovroo via Flickr

Once again I took to hounding the USA PR reps for Palm. The email to them proceeded along the following lines, – pardon the “sucking up”…

**************************************

Hi [..........],

Thanks for your replies.

A lot of people are anxious to know when the Palm Pre is being launched in Asia/Singapore.

Any idea of a time frame? Every day delayed is another iPhone customer gained!

As mentioned previously, we use to have the old early palms with stylus when we were in our early 20’s.…would be interesting to see just how far palm has come!

Thanks again,

The reply from the Palm chap was as follows;

**************************************

Hi Clifford,

Unfortunately, I can’t even estimate at a time frame. I’m sure you understand.

-[..........]

**************************************

Well, I understand kinda.

Of course Mr PR Palm chap aint going to leak precious release details to a little nobody like me. However, his response sounded a tad smug? evasive? condescending?

Technometry readers, I promised to continue hounding him. The hounding will continue.

More recent Palm news, is the launch in the US of the next Palm Smartphone called the Pixi. Link to cNet here.

Its mentioned to be unlikely to make it over to Asia. I’m relieved….why? It doesnt have wi fi (which should be mandatory) and any phone called the Pixi doesnt sound too smart or executive or masculine. One for the ladies?

The eBook Battle

The closest I’ve come to an eBook is my old Palm PDA. I use to download scripts of my favourite movies for long car rides. Pulp Fiction on PDA. Predator on the Palm. Nowadays, things have changed a bit, but eBooks still seem to be grappling to take a foothold – in the Singapore market, at least.

Generally, there are two main eBook products with many third parties, a distant third. (as an example, see Cnet Asia here)

The Amazon Kindle (and the more recent Kindle 2) is the front runner, thanks to Amazons early efforts and backed by its winning formula online shopping site and book archive.

In the opposing corner, the Sony Reader Digital Book PRS-700BC , the primary challenger.

In addition to being able to read ebooks on the iPhone,  I’m convinced Apple is also about to officially join the royal rumble with their intended tablet, which more are claiming will land in early 2010.  Dell, Intel, and HTC amongst others are reportedly going down the same tech path, I can imagine, we could soon all be like the flintstones and their rock tablets. But, lets not.

So, why don’t I (or most people) own an eBook reader?