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CEO Speak on iPhone vs. Palm Pre

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danhesseI guess there are times when a company shouldn’t let CEOs speak. I’m thinking this is one of those times. Sprint CEO Dan Hesse appeared on the Charlie Rose show and when asked how well the Palm Pre was doing vs Apple’s iPhone he had this to say:

It’s-it’s doing well, but you can almost put the iPhone, to be fair, in a separate category. The Apple brand and that device have done so well, it’s almost not… it’s like comparing someone to Michael Jordan.

Granted that may be true, but Dan’s supposed to be the head cheerleader isn’t he?

Let me give Dan some talking points for his next interview.

  • We’re making progress. Apple’s partner, AT&T continues to be plagued by network problems. They’re supposedly making upgrades to the network but we’ve been hearing that for some time now. For many iPhone users it is not the experience they signed on for.
  • The Palm Pre allows you to run multiple applications at the same time. Much like other phones have done for some time. Apple still hasn’t found a way to do this yet on the iPhone.
  • Why we hope our customers will upgrade every two years or so to the latest technology, the Palm Pre allows our customers to get more life out of their phones because the user can buy an extra battery and extend the life of the device when the battery eventually begins to lose its effectiveness. Apple iPhone users have no choice but to upgrade their handset. (He did mention that developments in battery technology were one of the things holding mobile advances back.)

Those are just a few. I’m sure there are more.

Via Gizmodo

24 Comments

24 Comments

  1. Martin Hill

    09/12/2009 at 8:52 am

    Perhaps he was worried he’d be asked why the Pre can’t search the web or email or check Google maps or do anything else that requires Internet connectivity while on a voice call, the sort of useful multitasking that the iPhone 3G actually handles with ease?

    Charlie Rose might also have asked about the too small keyboard with the annoying lip that makes typing painful or the lack of video recording etc.

    Perhaps he was resigned to admitting sales had been disappointing and just not in the same league as the iPhone.

    Tis a shame really. I hope that Palm survives – their ideas and GUI are at least more innovative than most of Apple’s other competitors.

    -Mart

  2. zato

    09/12/2009 at 9:32 am

    @Martin Hill: “Perhaps he was resigned to admitting sales had been disappointing and just not in the same league as the iPhone.”.

    And I think the fact that he would make these statements so publicly is a sign that Palm and Elevation Partners oversold and under delivered as far as Sprint is concerned.

    @Warner Crocker: (Tablet PC enthusiast. He is also a Microsoft MVP for Tablet PCs.) “The Palm Pre allows you to run multiple applications at the same time. Much like other phones have done for some time. Apple still hasn’t found a way to do this yet on the iPhone.”

    I see that this is another bought and paid for by Microsoft. anti-iPhone propaganda site.
    Have a nice day, creeps.

  3. Rob

    09/12/2009 at 9:52 am

    @zato – I guess you have not read any articles besides this one on GottaBeMobile.com or you wouldn’t have made that statement. bought / paid for by Microsoft & anti-iphone is the least logical statement you could make describing GBM.

  4. brock

    09/12/2009 at 9:56 am

    Dan Hesse is different than the other CEO’s from the big carriers. Sprint still has problems but he is putting a much better face on them these days.

    Do you think he uses a Pre? Haha. Doubt it! He speaks the truth. Putting marketing speak (ie, lying) doesn’t help anything. While I am not a Sprint customer, I appreciate his candor.

  5. Dodot

    09/12/2009 at 10:04 am

    @Zato

    I think you’re taking this rather short piece a little bit too personally? The Pre isn’t perfect but *gasp* neither is the iPhone. Besides, this post was more about what the CEO had to say (vis-a-vis what he probably SHOULD have said).

  6. oliver

    09/12/2009 at 10:05 am

    While everything Warner said is true, it doesn’t mean that Dan’s words were incorrect in any way. They were honest and non-corporate speak, and I am always happy when I encounter a rare instance of this.

    For the record, I type this on my iPhone 3G, but I convinced my wife to stick with Sprint and go from a Treo 700p to the Pre, and it was a good choice, too. As a long-time Palm user myself I really am excited to see/use WebOS.

  7. Warner Crocker

    09/12/2009 at 10:11 am

    @zato: I love my iPhone. Just in case you were wondering.

  8. Pat

    09/12/2009 at 10:21 am

    @ Warner

    Hope you proof read your work before giving it to the CEO. You use “by an extra battery” when you meant “buy an extra battery” and if you do any research you will realize that you can buy an extra battery from Apple and have it installed. It is just not a user installable item. Actually the use cases for multiple applications on a tiny screen is pretty limited and the Iphone allows some of them. For example when I am using my Navigon software on my Iphone while listening to Itunes through Aux in and a phone call comes in the Itunes stops playing the phone call comes up and the GPS software moves to the background. When I hang up the phone, Itunes starts again and the Navigation software become the foreground task. Does Apple support multitasking for 3rd party Apps no. Are their some apps where this becomes an inconvenience yes, but I agree it has it uses. The thing that Sprint has to figure out is how to woo the Iphone. Apple is selling Iphones like gangbusters on what is considered by many the worst network and at high monthly subscription cost. While Sprint is having trouble selling the PRE with a huge cost of ownership advantage. Maybe Sprint needs to invest in the star player rather then the AAA callup.

  9. Warner Crocker

    09/12/2009 at 11:08 am

    @Pat: Thanks for the correction.

  10. Warner Crocker

    09/12/2009 at 11:12 am

    @Pat: And I think you meant “use cases for multiple applications on a tiny screen ‘are’ pretty limited…” instead of “is” :)

  11. Olukayode

    09/12/2009 at 11:16 am

    @Zato
    Rob, why bother waste your breath on an idiot like Zato. I have a macbook pro and iPhone, yet I will readily submit that one of the most ignorant people you can find anywhere are apple fanboys. Zato is the creep.

  12. Sumocat

    09/12/2009 at 11:33 am

    I love how we can post iPhone news all week and still be called “anti-iPhone” on Saturday.

  13. zato

    09/12/2009 at 2:06 pm

    Rob wrote: @zato — I guess you have not read any articles besides this one on GottaBeMobile.com or you wouldn’t have made that statement. bought / paid for by Microsoft & anti-iphone is the least logical statement you could make describing GBM.

    This article IS the first time I’ve visited this 2 digit Microsoft XXXXXX. But I’ll be back.
    And I don’t care what you’ve written before. Your xxxxxx-site printed THIS today:

    “The Palm Pre allows you to run multiple applications at the same time. Much like other phones have done for some time. Apple still hasn’t found a way to do this yet on the iPhone.”

    This is a lie, and you know it. So as I said, I’ll be back-until you’re gone.

    Olukayode | Sep 12, 2009 | Reply @Zato
    “Rob, why bother waste your breath on an idiot like Zato. I have a macbook pro and iPhone, yet I will readily submit that one of the most ignorant people you can find anywhere are apple fanboys. Zato is the creep.”

    Zato’s law states:
    A creep that claims to own a Mac and/or an iPhone while also referring to “Apple fanboys” is both a liar and a creep. When the creep also can’t spell or write properly, then he is probably a PC gamer/loser creep.

  14. Piogan

    09/12/2009 at 2:12 pm

    You can have multiple app runnig on the iphone, but just Apple Apps. When you are listening music with Ipod, you still get a phone call, or SMS or email. that means all those App are still running on the background. So iphone have the ability to do it. It is just that apple dont let 3 party apps to run in back ground.

    I think Apple should leave at lest 3 or 4 apps other than apple’s one to run in background.

  15. dave s

    09/12/2009 at 2:15 pm

    “This article IS the first time I’ve visited this 2 digit
    Microsoft shit-hole”

    “can’t spell or write properly, then he is probably a PC gamer/loser creep”

    lol

    by the way, windows mobile (circa what? lol) and android are perfectly capable of multi-tasking

    actually, even a feature phone like the lg vu is capable of multi-tasking.

    fail

  16. GoodThings2Life

    09/12/2009 at 2:23 pm

    LMAO. Sadly, the comments by Zato and Pat are the reasons why I can’t stand anything Apple-based. I’m terrified if I even touch one of their products I will turn into a pompous, self-righteous tool that runs around correcting people inappropriately.

    In any case, I don’t get that anyone could conclude this site is anti-Apple, lol. Ludicrous… you guys are the most balanced news site I visit, and that balance is precisely why I keep coming back!

  17. Rodfather

    09/12/2009 at 4:28 pm

    I have both the Pre and iPhone and love both. I thought the statement by the Sprint CEO was funny.

  18. Rodfather

    09/12/2009 at 4:31 pm

    If the iPhone is Michael Jordan, the Pre should be Patrick Ewing

  19. Martin Hill

    09/12/2009 at 5:13 pm

    Wow Zato, would you please tone it down? You make the rest of us iPhone users look bad. No need to descend to insults and allegations of bias. *sheesh*
    -Mart

  20. Warner Crocker

    09/12/2009 at 5:46 pm

    Zato,

    Let’s back off the profanity shall we. We’re always glad to see differing opinions on the site. But site policy states that we don’t tolerate profanity. Period end of statement. You’re free to continue to contribute but without the profanity. I’ve edited your comment to remove the profanity as per site policy.

  21. turn.self.off

    09/12/2009 at 7:14 pm

    @mark: quick guess on the connection issue is that its a CDMA2000 issue, and one that should not appear on a UMTS variant, if that ever comes to market.

    hell, the same flaw was around in the non-UMTS iphone as well, as you cant use a GPRS/EDGE connection while a phonecall is ongoing, or receive a phonecall while using a data connection.

    unless that is, your referring to using wifi and mobile radio at the same time, if so i have no clue.

  22. turn.self.off

    09/12/2009 at 7:16 pm

    oops, make that martin. crap…

  23. Martin Hill

    09/12/2009 at 11:20 pm

    @turn.self.off

    yes I am talking about the limitations of any phone on Sprint’s EVDO network which also applies to Verizon.

    In contrast the iPhone’s 3G UMTS protocol on AT&T does allow simultaneous voice and data, something that many people may not realize when they assume the Pre and other phones are better at multitasking in all ways than the iPhone.

    -Mart

  24. sbtablet

    09/13/2009 at 7:03 pm

    Thank you for enforcing the civility clause, Warner.

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