News, Straight from the Hip

GUEST EDITORIAL: webOS Users Have But One Job…

By: Pamela Hazelton, 2/28/2011 10:37 am | 80 comments

All this talk about the Pre3 and Sprint reminds me of something… Oh, yeah, how Verizon and other carrier users had to wait – sometimes for nearly a year – while Sprint users gleefully showed off their goods. It also reiterates something I tweeted earlier this month:

You’re either married to a device or a carrier. Pick one.

It’s not that I’m partial to non-Sprint users. On the contrary. I’ll always hope for a perfect world, where we can utilize any device on any network. Unfortunately, that’s not how business works. This is a good thing because without competition webOS, as a platform, wouldn’t be where it is today, and its future wouldn’t be as highly anticipated.

We still don’t know if it’s HP or Sprint holding up the show for Sprint customers. So let’s just assume it’s both…

I’ve heard the whining. I’ve heard the arguments that include words like, “You owe us!” and “You can’t survive without us.” These arguments, though, do nothing to tell either company what they need to do. It just makes the lot of us look like… well, whiners.

I tracked a few Sprint webOS users who posted rants to HP, saying they’d leave webOS. In turn, they posted similar rants to Sprint saying they’d leave the carrier. This, on the heels of the same demands having been made regarding webOS 2.0 on legacy devices.

My point is simple: if you’re dedicated to webOS, find a classy way to tell your carrier what you want in exchange for the money you pass over to them every month. If your loyalties are with your carrier, find a classy way to ask HP to make all efforts to reach an agreement with your carrier.

In big business, there’s power in numbers, sure. But don’t confuse the number of webOS users on Sprint to the number of Android users. Don’t compare the Pre family user base with that of the Blackberry or the iPhone. Because there’s simply no comparison. And there won’t be until the new devices arrive and HP proves itself worthy in the mobile world via webOS. I have every belief that will happen, but that’s the future, and most big companies rely on more than the “belief” factor.

Just as developers of hundreds of popular iOS apps don’t yet see the value of porting over to webOS, we can’t expect every carrier to see the value in the Veer and Pre3 when the number of Android users is so much higher.

Ultimately, it’s HP’s job to change all this. The only job assigned to you is to decide… just how dedicated are you to the device you carry in your pocket?

About Pamela Hazelton

Pamela Hazelton is an eCommerce consultant and developer, focusing on shopability (usability), social media and related technology. She's also a webOS enthusiast who aims to push HP/Palm's platform to the masses.

View all posts by Pamela Hazelton →

http://www.webosroundup.com/ DanR

I think I’d choose the blonde one… ;)

http://www.arthurthornton.net/ Arthur Thornton

Don’t let your wife know ;)

http://www.arthurthornton.net/ Arthur Thornton

Well said. I’m a Sprint user now (but with a Sprintified Pre2), but I’ll probably be leaving Sprint. Not because of their lack of webOS devices, but because I’m probably going to be doing cross platform development and it will be easier on a GSM carrier where I can just swap out the SIM card whenever I need to develop on a specific phone.

http://twitter.com/roneyii roneyii

I’ve been thinking the same thing as my Plus and 2 are both GSM devices.

Bicentennial

i believed in HP that they will release Webos2.0 for legacy device, what is the final situation ball is dropped.
i don’t want to leave Sprint because HP is unable to keep up with existing competition and cannot provide what Sprint wants, it is problem with those lazy golden parachute CEO’s. i rather choose Android or Windows 7 phones in Sprint.

if HP can make a 4.3″ screen and a good looking phone and support customers with new updates to fix old bugs then Sprint can support WebOS. when HP itself doesn’t care about the loyal pre customers, why Sprint encourage vendors that are not loyal to Sprint customers, HP is a cheater.

http://www.pamelahazelton.com Pamela Hazelton

But… how do you know it’s HP not providing what Sprint wants? How do you know Sprint even wants webOS at all?

Anonymous

Agreed. I don’t really think Sprint cares about WebOS. They probably have a chip on their shoulder for the Pre hardware issues. They also seem to really only care about Android right now. I mean look, they finally are getting around to a WP7 phone, and that’s 1 of them, 4 months after the debut of WP7.
Bicentennial

i talked to Sprint sales and customer support that why we are not getting WebOS phones, only answer they told is business barrier or growth is not good.
Android is delivering them different variety of phones
Windows Phone 7 is also coming with different variety of phones
HP is providing same design of phones adding little tweaks, i am talking about hardware not WebOS(i don’t like someone talking that this software is bad, i like this software a lot)

WP7 is released late on CDMA because software is initially build for GSM. now it is coming on verizon also.

as i am telling again HP has to solely concentrate on software development and provide hardware requirements to other vendors and also internal HP department to see who comes up with good design. that gives customers more choice

http://www.pamelahazelton.com Pamela Hazelton

Please realize that carrier sales and support is rarely, if ever, provided with any “real” information. Corporate keeps pretty tight-lipped about all that.

Bicentennial

really then how come you guys know about new devices before release
http://www.webosroundup.com/ DanR

Leaks about devices themselves are frequent (P.S. and often inaccurate)… carrier information is almost never leaked. Another thing: we know as much about leaks, etc. as you do.
Bicentennial

i am telling what is told by Sprint sales i talked to. one more good example i experienced is Sprint Navigation where other phones got v2.8 but pre still stuck with v2.1, Sprint says waiting for palm approval it is few months back.
but i like palm to make a 4.0 or 4.3 ” phone so that other vendors will have something to talk on.
Bicentennial

really then how come you guys know about new devices before release

http://twitter.com/iroc371 Matt Michalski

You could talk to 50 people at Sprint Customer Service and get 50 different answers, none of them educated. Sorry to crap on your scoop there but its best to only site your sources if they’re credible.

btw The homeless man at the end of my block told me Sprint is definitely getting the Pre 3, next week! :p

Bicentennial

also i like sprint low monthly bill, my calls never dropped, more features for price and customer care is good. i use Sprint Airvana at home to get better signal due to basement and it is free from sprint no need to pay anything for Airvana
Shadavis08

sprint has already announced that they will continue to work closely with HP/webOS formally Palm/webOS . sprint will be getting the pre3 . period .
Joseph

If Sprint doesnt want webOS, then I’ll chose Sprint. As you said, be Classy and chose one carrier, or one platform, and if you can’t have both, shove one out on the iceberg. That would be webOS, the non-upgrading “legacy” OS, and the other webOS, the “wanna be but not yet until “coming months” OS. Cool simplification, I believe in shopability too.
Joseph

Ignoring his main point, which is his opening sentence, isn’t cool.

http://www.pamelahazelton.com Pamela Hazelton

Jpseph:

It’s obvious you just want to nitpick every thing I say. Seriously, this is one of your valid arguments?

– Sent from my Palm Pre

http://twitter.com/confusedgeek Felipe Garcia

Really? You think there is any possibility that HP doesnt want their phone on Sprint? Really?

I put this all on Sprint. Like T-mo before them, they were burned by palm phones and maybe a little gun shy to use them again. Maybe with HP that will change. Fingers crossed.

But if sprint doesnt decide to carry the pre3 by june, I am willing to move to ATT.

http://www.webosroundup.com/ DanR

Sounds like you chose the blonde… ;)

Joseph

The blond is underage and hasn’t been out in a car yet at night. I really think it would make a little more sense to wait under the blond got a little maturity and a little savoir faire about being undramatic, honest, and avoiding “difficult decisions” after months of saying something, and having to reverse in a “painful” way.

Sleepwlkr45

Playing with an Evo now…. but to all those who buy into android now and dump on webos, I say the biggest drawback to the Evo is Android …I’ll be back on webos when it’s back on Sprint…
roneyii

I’ve only ever been with Sprint.
Got my first phone back in 2003–never even had a landline.

But I have FIVE lines with Sprint. My line’s contract is up this summer in time for a Pre3, but the other 4 lines aren’t. 3 of them have until November.

Leaving Sprint would take ~$30 off of my Sprint bill.

I don’t think Verizon or AT&T is going to give me the service I want for $30.
I have an unlocked-GSM Pre 2 and an AT&T Pre Plus (and I’ll soon have a Verizon Pixi Plus).
I could easily switch to either carrier w/o a contract and have a webOS device to use–I just can’t afford service oon two networks at once.

It looks like I’m stuck with Sprint; for better or for worse.

http://www.pamelahazelton.com Pamela Hazelton

You only pay $30 for the data and all your minutes?

http://www.arthurthornton.net/ Arthur Thornton

Yes, for his line only on his 5-line family plan.

http://www.pamelahazelton.com Pamela Hazelton

Ah, okay. I have five lines as well.

Kevin Murphy

If you want to keep Sprint and WebOS in your life at contract renewal time there are two things you can do. first email [email protected] and let them know how you feel. also there is a petition page on facebook called “I want WebOS devices on Sprint” all you have to do is like this and if you want post a copy of your email to dan.
Bicentennial

i posted before also if HP is committed to carriers and customers by innovation. like giving WebOS to HTC to build some better phones. then carriers show more interest.

HP is not much commited in innovation why Sprint or other carriers take risk to introduce WebOS phones and let the customer get cheated by HP. i still think HP cheated customers by keeping everyone waiting that they will release WebOS2.0 to legacy devices.

http://www.pamelahazelton.com Pamela Hazelton

Really? The Veer and Pre3 aren’t innovative? They have features no other device has currently.

And, don’t miss the obvious – the vast majority of Pre users have no clue what 2.0 is, nor do they care.

Bicentennial

when people buy stuff they compare to existing hardware that is rolling in market like HTC EVO for Sprint, Iphone ATT and Verizon Motorola Droid X.

they willl compare and think can HP devices do that stuff. A expert digs more in to device functionality, for regular or normal person cares is comparing it to friends like
1. does veer and pre3 has big screen like droid and evo
2. do i have more devices to choose from if i cannot pay 200 dollars and still can enjoy operating system features
3. hey my friend is watching netflix on big screen

there are few things like this,

as you said majority of pre users have no clude what 2.0 is, but when a big company like HP says 2.0 is coming in few months to legacy devices and then drop the ball saying it cannot handle. does this mean HP is not trust worthy or Engineers at HP doesn’t know what they are doing or HP throw stuff to keep people waiting.

all i am trying to say is features are good in WebOS and there is no OS on market that can beet it, but change the design and give more hardware. don’t hang on with same Pre original design and throw devices like Pre+, Pre 2 and Pre 3

http://www.pamelahazelton.com Pamela Hazelton

“when people buy stuff they compare to existing hardware that is rolling in market like HTC EVO for Sprint, Iphone ATT and Verizon Motorola Droid X.”

No. The average person doesn’t understand hardware at all. Most smartphone users don’t know how to shop for a smartphone. That’s my point to you – the bulk of the people commenting here do not represent the majority of users.

Joseph

Pamela, what exactly makes you say that “most smartphone users don’t know how to shop for a smartphone”? What do you think we all are so stupid and “don’t get?” Are you clever enough to explain it to us, or are we too dumb for you to even bother saying anything based on a verifiable parameter or metric?
http://www.pamelahazelton.com Pamela Hazelton

Joseph:

It has nothing to do with being, as you say, stupid. Please don’t put words in my mouth.

The point is simple – most people don’t know what to look for nor what they actually need in a smartphone.

I wrote a post about this – guiding people on 10 things to consider when shopping for a phone:

http://www.pamelahazelton.com/technology/choosing-smartphone-for-business/

I’m sorry you think I’m attacking. I’m merely pointing out that most users have no clue about things because they either don’t take the time to research, or aren’t aware that resources are available.
http://www.pamelahazelton.com Pamela Hazelton

Joseph:

It has nothing to do with being, as you say, stupid. Please don’t put words in my mouth.

The point is simple – most people don’t know what to look for nor what they actually need in a smartphone.

I wrote a post about this – guiding people on 10 things to consider when shopping for a phone:

http://www.pamelahazelton.com/technology/choosing-smartphone-for-business/

I’m sorry you think I’m attacking. I’m merely pointing out that most users have no clue about things because they either don’t take the time to research, or aren’t aware that resources are available.
http://www.pamelahazelton.com Pamela Hazelton

Joseph:

It has nothing to do with being, as you say, stupid. Please don’t put words in my mouth.

The point is simple – most people don’t know what to look for nor what they actually need in a smartphone.

I wrote a post about this – guiding people on 10 things to consider when shopping for a phone:

http://www.pamelahazelton.com/technology/choosing-smartphone-for-business/

I’m sorry you think I’m attacking. I’m merely pointing out that most users have no clue about things because they either don’t take the time to research, or aren’t aware that resources are available.
http://www.pamelahazelton.com Pamela Hazelton

Joseph:

It has nothing to do with being, as you say, stupid. Please don’t put words in my mouth.

The point is simple – most people don’t know what to look for nor what they actually need in a smartphone.

I wrote a post about this – guiding people on 10 things to consider when shopping for a phone:

http://www.pamelahazelton.com/technology/choosing-smartphone-for-business/

I’m sorry you think I’m attacking. I’m merely pointing out that most users have no clue about things because they either don’t take the time to research, or aren’t aware that resources are available.
http://twitter.com/iroc371 Matt Michalski

I have to agree with Ms. Hazelton here just based on my personal observations. My sis friend had an Evo so thats what she wanted, My parents friends had Blackberrys so thats what they got, my one friend who is opening his own business saw others in business that used Blackberrys so he got one, and his wife who is a teacher and all her kids talk about how cool iPhones are got her to get an iPhone. The things all of these people have in common is that they are not techies and not one could name a feature exclusive to that particular phone/os that made them buy them.
Like I said just my observations and not hard data by any stretch but I am definitely convinced the average consumer doesn’t really compare features they just go with what feels cool.
Bicentennial

if the average person doesn’t understand may be, but they come to store and hey sales guy everyone is talking about HTC EVO what is that then they may buy or not. but they will not ask for HP at this time though.
i am looking for HP to make big screens to compete with other vendors

http://twitter.com/oak_labs nicholas peterson

The vast majority of Pre users don’t know the Veer or Pre 3 may someday exist. They will jump ship without knowing there was a ship to jump.
Joseph

2 questions, please, m’am. 1: What features exactly are you saying that the Veer and Pre3 have that are unique (logical question, since you think we “don’t have a clue what 2.0 is, nor… care” because we do care, and we are able to ask questions about weasel words and slick “promises”) 2. What exactly is “shopability” in distinction to merchantability, a well recognized term with an underbelly of integrity that this new twisted shrimping “shopability” seems to lack? Would you concur or explain why you disagree that “shopability” seems to refer more to the “buy-appeal” as opposed to “durable functionality after purchase”?

http://www.pamelahazelton.com Pamela Hazelton

1. Synergy…

And I never said the people “here” didn’t have a clue. I said the majority of users don’t – most users don’t even spend time at sites like this – they just use their devices.

2. Shopability is a term I use to gage the “usability” of a “shopping” site. I don’t know how you’ve concluded it has nothing with buy appeal – it covers every aspect of the store, start to finish. I’m not sure what this has to do with webOS, though. It just happens to be in my bio because that’s what I do for a living.

Joseph

“Synergy” is indeed nicely packaged on webOS devices, and that is a strong point, but the feature functionality is far from unique. “Unique” is a very strong term: let’s not misuse it so much that it comes to mean something truly banal. Granted “Synergy” has its merits, but Android and iPhone apps (and perhaps WP& but I personally can’t say) emulate its functionalities, altho perhaps not as “smoothly.” My point is that it isn’t a Differentiator that withstands functional analysis, even if it is “pretty.”
http://www.pamelahazelton.com Pamela Hazelton

Joseph:

Out of curiosity, are you a power business user? I am, and Synergy, for me, is unique. I’ve used “emulating” devices and it’s a totally different experience.

Shadavis08

delusional lol

Bicentennial

i posted before also if HP is committed to carriers and customers by innovation. like giving WebOS to HTC to build some better phones. then carriers show more interest.

HP is not much commited in innovation why Sprint or other carriers take risk to introduce WebOS phones and let the customer get cheated by HP. i still think HP cheated customers by keeping everyone waiting that they will release WebOS2.0 to legacy devices.
Bicentennial

why Windows 7 and Android is getting more popular or getting attention because they are releasing it to every hardware maker.
best example i think is Windows 7 is chosen by Nokia that means Asia is covered. Windows 7 is getting popular these days because every hardware vendor can license that.

all HP doing is keeping their golden duck thinking more eggs will be layed :) HP CEO release WebOS to more hardware vendor to get popularity

http://www.pamelahazelton.com Pamela Hazelton

Then how do you explain – umm – the iPhone and the iPad? Seriously, most people buy devices because of the “look” at the carrier stand, or based on what friends have. Most buyers do not research devices. Nokia isn’t a very good example.

True, licensing OS’ out means more volume and more devices, but there’s a reason many people will buy webOS, and a big part of that is HP – because they have a much more reputable name for home and business than Nokia. Synergy is going to change everything.

Bicentennial

as reply by hazelton and reply by elpollodiablo.
we need to keep licensing like Apple and like Google. also enterprise like Blackberry
what happened to Apple struggling competition from Google and Windows 7.
i would say instead of releasing three model go like 2.6″, 3.6″, 4.3″ and 9.7″. make it small, medium, large and extra large.

i really believe the potential of WebOS but doesn’t believe in HP the way they are doing business. they are not fast enough to release based on competition. Blackberry is using kind of WebOS features and making playbook don’t you guys agree on that.

if HP wants to be big player in smart phone market leave the hardware part of cell phone to vendors and concentrate on software development this brings competition from three to four OS’s. that’s what google and windows 7 is doing. other than sticky steve jobs saying flash is not future or you are not holding device properly that’s what causing call drops.

shadavis08

HP didnt get to be one of the two biggest hardware companies in the world with out knowing how to do business lol i mean really ?! come on they are just starting out let them get the ball rolling and see where it goes for real . they just bought palm less than a year ago more like 6 months and they are already to start . let at least get out of the gate. lol oh and apple does not license out iOS to anyone !!

Bicentennial

i am not asking HP to do open source, i am asking why can’t HP take help from HTC or other vendors so that HP can concentrate on software completely.
now they don’t have time. take help from HTC or some other vendors and later HP can build their own.

currently 4.X”screen market is going

elpollodiablo

it is not all about popularity, it is about quality and an environment that HP is building. If there are 3 companies doing the exact same thing(releasing their OS to more hardware vendors) not all of them survive. but if you differentiate yourself you will have a better chance. HP is taking the best of all worlds. Taking the environment from apple, the openness of google and the enterprise of blackberry’s. Also taking apples idea to the next level no one device will fit all. so make multiple devices and still have the ecosystem.

eid

Yes I agree. HP can’t do the licensing game anymore. Not with Google’s free Android. So that suggestion is DOA. HP is trying to play to its enterprise strength and making webOS secure for enterprise standards. The touchpad is HP’s true favorite mobile device because tablets and notebooks is in HP’s core strength. HP hopes to sell smartphones but probably through VAR channels. If it manages to sell lots through wireless stores then that’s gravy. I’m fine with the announced HP products but they need to add a slab device that people are used to seeing on the Iphones and most Androids.
Android is doing very well as a whole but every android manufacturer is going to be looking over its shoulder because they are competing with themselves soley on technical specs and form factors. Motorola is watching what HTC or Samsung are doing because they are selling virtually the same products.
That’s why Nokia went with Win 7. At least Nokia can be a dominant player on that win 7 platform instead of trying to compete with every hardware company on the Android team.

John

What do I want to do? I want to be loyal to WebOS. I am in the minority that actually loves the original Pre, and I will continue to use mine until it dies. Yes, I will skip upgrades to keep using my Pre. I already used one upgrade to buy a second Pre.

However, realistically, I can’t leave Sprint. I’ve got a friend that works there and has gotten me onto the Advantage Club plan. It’s just too good. I can’t even come close through another carrier, and my wife would kill me if I doubled our phone bill just to buy a certain phone.

I understand that I am not owed a phone on Sprint. But I sure hope and pray that the Pre3 lands there eventually. I’ve handled my second Pre like a baby, hoping to make it last as long as possible. So far, so good. 6 months, and not even a scratch. But eventually, I’ll have to replace it, so I will continue to pester Sprint to bring the phone on board. I can’t imagine that HP would object to an additional carrier, so I assume that Sprint is acting as the gatekeeper.

http://www.pamelahazelton.com Pamela Hazelton

John:

I love the “roundness” of the Pre and Pre+, so I’m not looking forward to the “clean edges” of the Pre3, nor the bigger screen. I will, however, upgrade so I am able to take advantage of all the benefits, especially “touching” with the Touchpad. That, to me, is going to help me streamline even more.

Dave

The other question to ask Sprint, is will you carry the new HP SmartPhones, or versions of the VEER, PRE-3 and TouchPad?
Now if your savy about the retail market, you NEVER,NEVER, let consumers know what your going to launch in the future, unless you want to KILL all your sales till then.
So Sprint is going to carry a subset of HP Phones/Pads, but they cannot announce till the product is ready to launch, meaning that HP is in control, until they have product to ship on the day after a Carrier announces, or they have the wrath of ShareHolders, which is alot worse than the wrath of PALM users.
IMHO… of course. BTW the same goes for TMO,VZ,T, and other international carriers.. MUM is the word in marketing of NEW Products not ready to SHIP!
http://www.facebook.com/bcmorales1 Brandon Clay Morales

I love webOS but I have been with Sprint for almost 8 years, even though there have been a few bumps in the road over all they have treated me great. I know if I were to switch to Verizon or AT&T I would not be happy. My parents have Verizon and every time I see there bill I want to cry for them. AT&T is the same way with there pricing not to mention service outages and data throttling. With Sprints fair pricing and my company’s discount the only thing cheaper would be Metro, Boost or Virgin and they just don’t have the hardware. I am still confident that something will happen with Sprint why else would Ruby say that they were going to do something special for legacy pre owners when we are almost all on Sprint. My guess is that they are going to offer a trade in credit or something.
http://www.crazzilla.com Randholio

Sorry, but the apps nor hardware are even remotely comparable to the Iphone in my opinion. Being stuck with a pre, and an obvious decline in any apps being developed at the moment is pretty frusterating too, and since the announcement of no legacy devices getting the update, I haven’t seen anything other than app updates for the most part. It appears as if I’m sitting on a dead duck. By the time the pre 3 is finally released, it most likely to be second rate or barely par to spec standards anyways. WebOs does some really nifty tricks yay! Too bad their isn’t much by way of apps and ect to actually take advantage of it. I mean honestly, my motorola razor had voice features like voice dial and ect….. Yet I have a smart phone? Lol, my faith in all this has been lost, and I plan on terminating sprint and their price hiking, no animated picture supporting, insurance fraud scamming crap antics as well.

I can’t wait to freakin jump ship.
http://www.crazzilla.com Randholio

Sorry, but the apps nor hardware are even remotely comparable to the Iphone in my opinion. Being stuck with a pre, and an obvious decline in any apps being developed at the moment is pretty frusterating too, and since the announcement of no legacy devices getting the update, I haven’t seen anything other than app updates for the most part. It appears as if I’m sitting on a dead duck. By the time the pre 3 is finally released, it most likely to be second rate or barely par to spec standards anyways. WebOs does some really nifty tricks yay! Too bad their isn’t much by way of apps and ect to actually take advantage of it. I mean honestly, my motorola razor had voice features like voice dial and ect….. Yet I have a smart phone? Lol, my faith in all this has been lost, and I plan on terminating sprint and their price hiking, no animated picture supporting, insurance fraud scamming crap antics as well.

I can’t wait to freakin jump ship.

http://www.pamelahazelton.com Pamela Hazelton

I don’t understand how it would be totally second rate. webOS 1x has some stellar features many iPhone users wish they had. Like… a gesture area and easy multitasking. Apple hasn’t picked up on that yet, and they’ve had plenty of time.

RussK

I don’t know how many webOS users are still on Sprint, but I’m willing to bet that Sprint doesn’t really care about this relatively small community. I am a Sprint user and like their plans for the money; but that’s not going to keep me from leaving if they don’t get the new phones. I’ll even pay the damn cancellation fee, I don’t care; I WILL have a new webOS phone soon. More than likely, I’ll move to AT&T for the GSM: true multitasking with the line and the ability to swap cards and travel.
RussK

I don’t know how many webOS users are still on Sprint, but I’m willing to bet that Sprint doesn’t really care about this relatively small community. I am a Sprint user and like their plans for the money; but that’s not going to keep me from leaving if they don’t get the new phones. I’ll even pay the damn cancellation fee, I don’t care; I WILL have a new webOS phone soon. More than likely, I’ll move to AT&T for the GSM: true multitasking with the line and the ability to swap cards and travel.
Csusking

Well said. I am on sprint and have pre…just 6 mo back I renewed my contract and I am happy with both. If I can get PRE3 on sprint it will be wonderful. I have used almost every platform and truthfully WEBOS is the best of all.
JS

Gotta disagree. If Palm hadn’t launched on sprint exclusively than your point is fair, but they chose sprint and for that reason that SHOULD be adding phones to sprint. At the very least because the Pre was a piece of crap in terms of build. If not they should simply refund all the apps you bought from the app catalog and most of us would call it even.

The problem is apps cost money and they cannot transfer from one OS to another. So even now, when I will skip an HP product cycle and buy and android phone, I still lose out on my investment in apps. Now if sprint/hp simply put a replacement device on sprint for us with genuine design flaws it wouldn’t be an issue.

Bottom line, if Apple launched on ATT and then launched on the other carriers but didn’t launch a revision on ATT it would be a huge story. Because webOS has no market share, and HP has been killing off legacy users one way or another this hasn’t gotten the attention it deserves.

Honestly, if we were told upfront, the poorly designed and assembled Pre Minus was a one and done on Sprint, would we have bought it?

I would think other than gadget geeks who buy a phone every 3 to 6 months the answer would be NO!

So effectively those people were duped! Spin it however you want, but DUPED is what we were!

JS

Should say put a replacement device out without genuine design flaws.

Raun

Slow news day for sure. Other than that, I’m not sure I understand the point of this post.

http://www.pamelahazelton.com Pamela Hazelton

Raun – that’s why it says “Guest Editorial” – it’s not “news” at all.

[email protected]

This Is All To Disheartening For Me. I Have Been Loyal To Sprint & Jumped On Board When Palm Announced At C.E.S. 2009 About Their “New” Product Called The Palm Pre Featuring WebOS. I Knew From The Onset That It Would Be Special Because That Year It Took “Best In Show” And Did It Cause A Blazing Buzz Of Anticipation For It’s Release. I Guess I Allowed Myself To Be So Sold On It That In My Opinion Something This Good Can Only Get Better. Better It Has Gotten But Yet I As Of Yet Have Not Been Able To Enjoy The #1 Operating System In The World When It Comes To Mobile Devices. What Has Happened Since June 6Th 2009 Is I Have Occasionally Got To Look Forward To Well Talked About O.T.A. Updates That Tested My Patience Waiting For Them To Arrive And Once They Did It Was Like The Best Christmas Morning I Ever Had. It Was Like A Brand New Love For My Phone All Over Again And An Excitement To See What Else I Can Learn To Do New With My Phone Like Take A Video And Post It Directly To YouTube. Wow,That Was Really Amazing. I Could Also Get A Blinking Notification If An Email Or Text Message Came In. Some Really Exciting Stuff At The Time. I Allowed Myself To Think That Those Christmas Morning O.T.A. Updates Would Continue To Consistently Come With The Next Major Announcement Of Adobe 10.1 Flash Player And All I Was Waiting For Was Adobe To Finish It And Send It Off To Palm For My Next Exciting Learning Adventure With My Palm Pre…..We All Know What Happened Next Because 2 Million Of Us Are Still Hoping For Bigger, Better And Greater Things To Come From Hewlett Packards Acquisition Of Palm. Heres Hoping To A Brighter Future Between Sprint & Hewlett Packard….GOD BLESS & BEST REGARDS,
Anonymous

Thank you, that’s a well thought out guest editorial. Of course the truth as always lies in between. It is important to be on multiple carriers, and it is important to have multiple form factors as it’s also important to have a compelling eco-system, design, marketing, usability and good policy towards the customer (openness, update policy, choice etc.).

Until now NOBODY is leading in all of those areas. This is the great chance for HP to advance and to fill out as much as possible for a compelling solution.

I personally am not bound to carriers. As I live in Germany I just want them to release their phone the “normal” way, without subsidisation and contracts. Here I can chose between four big GSM-Carriers and countless resellers who are all willing to give me cheap contracts and prices for voice and data without contract obligations. Everything as long as I don’t want my phone to be subsidised ;)

If they should release it only with contract (which in Germany only happened to the iPhone until now) then I really would have to think about it, but probably still would have to swallow the bitter pill (or how it would be called in German “bite into the sour apple”^^).
Ken

Maybe we can wait to see what totally HP WEBOS PHONE LOOKS LIKE the ones that are coming even though better made hardware still have Palm Design , don’t get me wrong have always loved palm since they were just PDA’S without phone , then had a treo ,centro with sprint , now Preplus with Verizon due to where I live had poor sprint service so they let me out of the contract
Anaya2

You all thinking this wrong, Verizon and AT&T are big in the enterprise sector, unlike T-Mobile and Sprint, and if you read and see between the line, HP is concentrating the enterprise sector and not the consumer sector, the veer and pre3 are cabable hardware, but are enough to do that what is needed it to do, any faster then that becomes a waste of hardware, especially for the enterprise sector where results are inportant then flashy transitions and 3D .
http://twitter.com/dinillo william torres

I think I’d choose the brunette one… ;)
JoeZiehmer

I like what HP has truthfully done with the Veer, Tablet, and Pre3 in a few years I would gladly return. Finished being angry because the users who got swindled will always have to remember that HP got humbled and swindled to the tune of 1.2 billion in purchasing Palm. Which was the reason for a majority of the shakeup process done in removing several key Palm personal. I now see that Leo got burned and Ruby led him right down the yellow brick road with rose colored glasses. I see advantages in waiting to see what “gaming” phones might be coming down the pipe line. Palm took gamers for granted and gave us a small list of EA only games. I think sooner or later HP may go for personal over business to gain a little share in the gaming industry. EA is limited by hardware and even an overclocked Pixi+ and iPod touch g3 proves it.
Flashgee

This is a battle we won’t win… It not a priority and until it is we can cry all we want nothings going to happen…
http://linh.wordpress.com Linh

For me, month to month ownership is the bottom line. I have a 4 line family plan, and if everyone has data, Sprint wins, hands down. I live in the Washington DC area, so coverage is a moot issue. I love webOS, I really do, but am I willing to pay 10-20% more over the life of the phone just to have it? Sorry, HP, I just can’t do it.

Personally, I really like the Veer because I’m tired of giant phones. But likely will get a Pre3 because if Sprint gets something, it’ll be that. A little bummed 4G won’t be available (cause it’ll be 2 more years till I can get another phone)

http://www.pamelahazelton.com Pamela Hazelton

Linh – it will be well over two years because any majority of users will even be able to utilize 4G. It’s going to take a long time for all the networks to update.

http://linh.wordpress.com Linh

True, hence my location context. WiMAX and Verizon LTE (not sure about ATT) are here, and will probably be ahead of the game here. Not that it’s necessary of course, but I’ll certainly feel a bit behind :)

Joseph

Thanks for the advice to chose one Carrier OR one Platform… However, I’ll bet this is a straw dog poll of a non-issue to fill up a hole that was never there… There are some people who live by my sarcastic adage that, “The best problem to solve, after drawing attention to it’s complexity and the impossibility of solving it, is the problem that didn’t exist in the first place.”

http://www.pamelahazelton.com Pamela Hazelton

Joseph:

I wrote this article based on hundreds of comments via Twitter, Facebook and here. It’s an editorial. If you have a problem with me, I’d rather you just tell me what it is than to try to find fault in every sentence I write.

Paulb443

I have to say that there’s an underlying attraction between joseph and pamela that reminds me of an old tv show… :-)

GUEST EDITORIAL: webOS Users Have But One Job…

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