I mentioned last week that the opening page for the palm site had switched from the “Pre” to the “Treo Pro”.  I see now that Palm has announced that it is releasing the Treo Pro on the 15th of March.  This will be the last Palm product to use the old operating system that has been the palm trademark OS from the beginning.  The interesting thing is the use of Windows Mobile 6.1, as a system basis.  Palm claims “providing the user with more mobile power”  to which I would add “and the same clunky drawbacks typical of Microsoft that leave you scratching your head wondering why did they do that”?  For companies and individuals who have Palm OS applications that are proprietary to old OS this is your last chance to get a model that will run those applications.

“Our agents rely heavily on their phones since they’re a truly mobile workforce, and Treo Pro is really convenient for checking business email, connecting to fast Wi-Fi and running our custom TurboApps application. With TurboApps, agents can submit insurance applications, get quotes and complete the application process — all from their Treo Pro. The Palm innovations added to the Windows platform make accessing the most used functions even easier, so staying productive and efficient is a breeze.”

The new Pre is apparently not ready for “prime time” and the Palm company is looking for ways to generate operating cash until the Pre is ready for release.  They are however continuing to build the “Buzz” for the new release.  This week they managed to get on the “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” show.  They are actively posting on “Facebook“, and “Twitter” as Colleen Bullington discussed how the company is seeking promotional opportunities, where ever they can find them, including renting time on a “Times Square” video billboard.  For the european market a deal has in the making for the GSM version of the phone.  One source says “VodaPhone” and another says Movistar”  will be carrying the Pre.

On the carrier scene Sprint held a webcast on Thursday 03/12/09, to tout the “Palm Pre” saying that it would continue to carry thefull line of palm products as well as the Pre. As with all the PR blasts, nothing so far on a release date.

Pre browser looks mighty fast in Palm webcast

Pre seems very promising. Its got a good OMAP under the hood, and so far terrific looking OS with seamless integration with most of the web and desktop applications out there. On the other hand, Opera Mobile 9.5 with flash stomps all … Read more…

E-Commerce News: Wireless: Sprint, Palm Offer a Few Tidbits on Pre

Palm is trying to get its Palm OS application developers to work on webOS applications, Lett said. That’s a smart move, and one that will boost Palm’s chances, IDC’s Llamas said. “Mobile apps are no longer just one of those things that .

» Palm Pre could run high-end games…one day -> TamsPalm - the Palm …

Palm acknowledged this again, saying that games for the Pre will initially be relatively simple, web-centric ones, such as Sudoku. But Matt Crowley, Product Line Manager at Palm, said something that could raise hopes that this situation .

Technorati Tags: palm pre, palm pre cell phone, Palm Treo Pro, pre cell phone

Since we don’t know the exact release date of the Palm Pre, and most of the technical feature articles have now been published it is interesting to watch the rumor mills and other commentary getting bandied about on the net.  Last week Andrew Nusca from ZDNet had an article speculating on Palm betting the farm on their Pre when they are in financial straights (as if every other manufacturer in this economy wasn’t).   Anyway he complained that they should have released the Pre shortly after the show at CES.  I don’t necessarily agree with him but he makes an interesting point.  The longer it takes to get the pre to market the longer it will take for them to make a return on their investment and the wait is hurting sales of their current products.  

Over at Precentral they are having a naming contest for those who want to express their loyalty to the "Palm Pre" over the Iphone and the Blackberry.  

What do to with the terms PreVert and PreJect?  I think:

• PreVert: A CrackBerry user who has a secret lust for a Palm Pre
• PreJect: An iPhone user only rejects the Pre because of his rampant Apple fanboyism.

You might want to head over and leave a comment or vote for your favorite.

Today if you check out the Palm.com opening page they are pushing the "palm pro" the windows mobile 6.1 version of their mobile offerings. The Pre has disappeared from the front pages of their site as well as the top pages of their blog, replaced by the "Treo Pro."

The facebook conversation continues this week with Collen Bullington, a Palm advertising exec answering questions about the promotional end of the campaign.  For all the questions she refuses to be drawn in and reveal a release date. 

And then we have those who go overboard and make the prediction on pure speculation:

[RETRACTED]Palm Pre: hits stores March 15th By  Tom Hanna, Site Founder  

Palm Pre Release Date Update - Treonauts

Sprint CEO Reiterates Planned Palm Pre Release Date First Half (by June) 2009 Although hopeful rumours that the next generation Palm Pre smartphone might be released as early as April. 

Palm wants $49 million for launching the Pre, developing other …

For the moment, the actual release date of Palm Pre is not known, but the smartphone is said to be outed in the US first, via Sprint (the carrier apparently has exclusivity on the handset)

Technorati Tags: cell phones, handheld phones, mobile phones, palm pre, Palm Pre Release Date