Palm's Big Plus: Pre And Pixi Headed For Verizon
Palm confirmed that Verizon will carry new versions of the Palm Pre and Palm Pixi called, respectively, Palm Pre Plus and Palm Pixi Plus. The announcement marks the first time that phones with Palm's mobile platform, webOS, will appear on Verizon-carried devices.
AT&T also confirmed earlier this week it would be launching two Palm webOS smartphones this year, although it did not provide further details on what phones they'll be.
The Verizon phones will be available later this month.
Hardwarewise, the Palm Pre Plus is more or less the same as the existing Palm Pre, which runs on Sprint, with a few changes, including double the internal storage (16 GB as opposed to 8 GB), the removal of the Sprint Pre's single hardware button, a smoother slide-out keyboard and some coloring changes on the surface. The Palm Pixi Plus adds Wi-Fi connectivity over its Wi-Fi-less Sprint analog.
More substantial improvements come in software upgrades, which according to Palm will be updated in existing Pre and Pixi phones in February.
The Palm Pre Plus can now record and edit video, and both Pre Plus and Pixi Plus can be converted in mobile Wi-Fi hotspots, providing Internet connectivity for up to five devices if users buy a tethering plan. Other improvements are in Palm's app store, including a plug-in to encourage game development for webOS.
"The Palm experience is all about helping our customers stay connected so they never miss a thing," said Jon Rubinstein, Palm chairman and CEO, in a statement. "We're constantly enriching this experience with new features and innovations. The Verizon Wireless launch of Pre Plus and Pixi Plus is the next phase in delivering this unique Palm experience to more people."
Palm is right to make a new splash with Pixi and Pre, both included in Everything Channel's 10 Coolest Smartphones of 2009, early in the new year. While both phones were important new additions to Palm's lineup in June and November, respectively, neither had enough momentum to thrust Palm back into a conversation now dominated by Apple iPhone and the galaxy of Google Android-based phones.
When AT&T confirmed it would offer Palm phones early in the week, Palm's shares jumped. Being able to offer Pixi and Pre on both AT&T and Verizon, as well as Sprint, might give Palm the booster shot it really needs.