Bout time! Anyone have an estimate from previous phones how long after arriving in the states to the local retail stores?

This phone better be released soon. i'm already looking into purchasing an iPhone or G1. i've been with sprint for over 8 years and i don't want to give up on them but i REALLY NEED (not want) a new phone and i'm not waiting until June for this phone!

There's a featured story over at www.precentral.net that says initial supply is going to be tight, so employees have been asked not to get one for themselves to free up supply.

I guess being a "Premiere" member just may pay off for a change. That said, early adopters are always guinea pigs for the rest.

My blackberry is going downhill fast because of a loose USB port, which can't be replaced. I'm hoping it holds on for at least a few more weeks.

Ironically, that same report said the May 17th date is looking less and less likely as the days go by.

If the palm pre is being produced in Taiwan (as in the Republic of China), why is it being shipped from Hong Kong (in the Peoples Republic of China)?

to @drbyers: Do you have an 8830? The loose USB port is a Blackberry defect. Of course, they won't admit it. My friends with Verizon Blackberries were able to exchange it for free at the store. I was able to change it TWICE for free...because of the insurance. No deductible! I'm waiting on PRE as well before this new one has the same problem

to @Drew Tarr, why YES, yes I do have an 8830. And it suxBallz. I've already had to swap mine out once, but i'm holding out for a new Palm Pre this time.

Hong Kong shipment instead Taiwan Port?
Maybe Chi Mei has a branch in Hong Kong, or partner manufacturer.In a repetitive focus manufacturing process, several subcontracts are made with similar qualified manufacturers The parts are modules assembled then in one final point of the production that partners agree to, and shipment is made in this case from Hong Kong.
Airbus makes airplanes with same process in Europe.

Mow we're talking! Let's get this thing delivered already

Holy shizNat. This story may not be a rumor after all.

Precentral says they've been snooping around asking about the UPS delivery, and their sources tell them its true TOO!!1

The only downside is that that's still no guarantee of a final public launch date. Phooey!: http://www.precentral.net/palm...final-roms

I talked to a sprint rep this weekend. He told me that he was the point guy from the palm pro at his store and he got it about a month before the release day. He also said a lot of the other things that usually precede launching of a new phone are not in place. So getting the phone by May 17th is not going to happen. Looks more likely that we will see it at the end of May we start seeing ads starting next week. Otherwise they will probably miss there expected launch date and get it out by mid to late June. Anything later than this Palm can start turning off the lights to their facilities because they will be out of business. My contract ends in late June and if the phone has not released by then it is very likely (95%) that I will be getting an iphone, even though I have stated many times how much I hate Apple.

I feel your pain. lol.

i have already seen commericials for the palm pre on television

I'd feel a whole lot better if the picture were of a CONTAINER of Palm Pre's,
rather than those half-empty bay crates...

I'm a premire customer I dont care if they use me as a guinea pig. But my 12 month upgrade benefit doesnt kick in till June 12 so June 17th as a release date is fine by me.

Damn just released the thing already seriously i have been wit sprint for more than 9 years. Im now getting tired of waiting

I need my Pre! Please help me get rid of this hunk of junk windows os Diamond Touch. ugh. : ). Thanks.

Depends on how many shipments and how many units? One shipment?May 31th release date ?
What consumer electronics, wireless or other events related to a smartphone announcing are upcoming near to that date?Hard to say?

Taiwan company, plant in mainland China, near port in Hongkong.

Taiwan company, plant in mainland China, near port in Hongkong.

We don´t know where exactly is Chi Mei plant but if you say it is near Hong Kong port, sound more reasonable.

OK, the plane will be transferred to a new location and prepared for reshipping. But what about the Pres that the plane carried?

From Taiwan to Hong Kong One Stop switch planes from Hong Kong to Louisville USA
Pres are transfered too in each stop.

What is takin so long for the pre? Is it made out of gold? Is this just a marketing ploy?
Bev

I would say yes it is a marketing strategy Besides to start from zero with a new software takes time.

My Sprint rep told me they started their training on the pre... Maybe a May release, I will keep us all posted. Still no real date or price..

stopped by the sprint store yesterday in beverly hills....june maybe july was the official answer for the release date.....

PS also great to see that the Pre is being made in Taiwan rather than China.....probably near where my family lives in Taichung too.....where my Treo was made....

Tu Cheng City, is Chi Mei location.

@AKITAYO, thanks, my point was that the sentence is written poorly and actually states that the PLANE (not the Pres) "will be unloaded and then transferred to another location locally to be prepared for reshipping." Why would a plane be moved and prepared for reshipping? How exactly does one reship a 767?

The sentence should have been written, "The plane will be unloaded, and then THE UNLOADED PREs will be transferred to another location locally to be prepared for reshipping."

Of course if Pres has to wait until a new plane is schedule to flight from Hong Kong to USA.

It should be a UPS location in the airport

I think devices are already in the USA at this time. 3 days has gone from April 28th that this news came up.

I heard the shipment was lost. Customs confiscated the phones!!!!! The relase date now is for the 2nd quarter of the year

What ? Now everyone is a smuggler

The phones came in. There was less than 800 of them and they are stored locally in Louisville to be shipped back out. 200 have been sent to Kansas for testing. Dont ask me why Kansas!