Verizon Getting Cold Feet on Palm Pre Launch

Verizon Wireless is said to be reconsidering their plans to begin offering the Palm Pre smartphone in January 2010, as previously anticipated. The Palm Pre touch-screen smartphone was launched in June this year exclusively on Sprint Nextel. At that time, Verizon Wireless head Lowell McAdam told Reuters that consumers could expect to see new divices like the Palm Pre on its network within six months. Sprint Nextel countered with a statement that their exclusivity deal on the Pre was for longer than six months. This led wireless market followers to speculate on the January 2010 launch.

Now, a report on theStreet.com cites people close to the discussions as saying Verizon has decided not to support the new Palm. Possible reasons put forth are the Pres lower than expected sales, Verizons focus on supporting Blackberry devices from Research in Motion as well as Motorolas Android phone, and the Palm Pres reliance on Palms app store, which would conflict with Verizons own download service, VCast. Maybe Sprint has locked in its exclusivity for a longer period than 6 months?

Either way, there are sure to be a lot of disappointed Verizon customers. Verizon Wireless are not helping themselves either, as they are in dire need of new up to date smart phone models. Palm stock moved lower on the news by 4.7%.