Verizon Wireless puts the Palm Pre Plus and Pixi Plus on a fire sale

By on Apr 1, 2010 at 11:07 AM
Breaking April 1, 2010

Pre-and-Pixi-Plus

Verizon Wireless just hit us up with information on a new promotion that it is launching today for the Palm Pre Plus and the Pixi Plus. The Pre Plus will drop to the ultra-low price of $49.99 while the Pixi Plus will bottom out at  $29.99. As we all know, two is better than one, and both handsets will be eligible for Verizon’s well-known BOGO sale. As always, both handsets will require a two year agreement to get this pricing. Still not intrigued? How about this, Verizon has dropped the price of the webOS mobile hotspot service to $0 (from $40) for both new and current customers. Wow! We’ve been told that the “free hotspot” offering will not be advertised on the web right away, however: “customers who purchase the device will be told of the free “hotspot.”

UPDATE: Looks like current Pre and Pixi customers can add this feature for $0 as well!

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  • http://www.davidfabian.net David

    Is the free tethering locked in for two years, or is it just a promo? This is an amazing deal, though those waiting for a ‘better Palm device’ may be out of luck…

    • Alex

      hopefully with this price point and free mobile hotpot..there will be more customers I like VZW’s aggressive approach…

    • VZW

      Locked in for 2 years.

      • Phil Green

        I just did a 1 year contract and received the 3g hotspot feature for free.

  • http://www.inspiredthemovie.com Steve

    So… I’m trying to figure out if this deal will tide my phone envy over until the VZW iPhone is out…

    Are there any Pre Plus owners who regret their decision already and wish they got a Droid?

    Can’t beat this price!

    • RuDdOgG

      I bought both the Droid & Pre Plus on ebay… I decided to stick with the Pre over the Droid…strictly based on the webOS UI!
      I will be switching to the Incredible/Nexus One/iPhone IF they ever come out on VZ!

      • http://www.inspiredthemovie.com Steve

        I assume a vzw iPhone will be out in a year or sooner, so just trying to figure out if the Pre will hold my interest for 18-24 months…

        or if I should just suffer the pain of my slow Blackberry Curve for another year…. :(

      • Graham

        I’m not sure myself if VZW will get the iPhone… since Canada switched to HSPA, VZW is the only major CDMA network and Apple may not consider that profitable enough to develop a cdma version of the iPhone.

      • T

        Verizon has 3x more customers than Canada has citizens… So I must disagree based on those numbers alone.

      • Mrwirez

        Canada? We have more mailmen than Canada has people.. Eh?

    • Mike

      Will be more than 7 months before you see vz iphone
      More like 1 year

    • akex

      no regrets, WebOS has a better user experience than Android…if you are fan of the iphone you will appreciate it…plus at this time the price point and free mobile hotspot make it a slam dunk…

    • graig smith

      i bought a droid first and had some issues. ie mostly alarm clock. that has to ring. and then the gps would stop working till you redbooted. traded in for a palm pre. really liking the software right now.

  • Erik

    I wonder – is this a limited time deal or will the pricing structure remain like this? My new every two is in 20 days and I am contemplating buying the phone now. What do you think?

    • Michael

      I just contacted Verizon about this option and they stated that it will remain “free” for the length you have the Palm Pre. This is by far the best deal I have seen in a very long time! Now if Verizon can market this advantage and bring it to the masses. Way to go Verizon… lets keep Palm Alive!

      Lets just hope this gives Palm the Money and ability to bring out a Super Smartphone! Palm Pre 2.

  • jmk

    seeing as how palm filed for bankruptcy today and we have ~100k devices in the warehouse, this isn’t surprising. (no april fools)

    • T

      Really? I haven’t seen anything come thru here… I know they are expected to any day, didn’t know it was official…

    • Mike

      Your a idiot,no such thing putz

    • Butthead007

      apparently, you are the only person in this world who knows about palm’s bankruptcy issue. are you that dumb?

  • big red elephant

    can someone follow up on the existing,customer hot spot,, i got my pixi 35 days ago… would love to know if my hot spot is now free

    • VZW

      Yeah, it’s free for Pixi users too :)

  • nothtckid

    I personally don’t even like Palm, but If I can get one of these, and turn that feature on and off while changing ESNs when I travel…that is well worth it.

    the palm pre plus would be my “travel phone” ha ha

  • Dunno

    it’s free. you can add it from my verizon. just did that for my wife’s pixi

  • DaHarder

    Picked one (a Palm Pre Plus) up this morning, and though I’m unflinchingly devoted to my DROID, there’s no doubt that this is the best mobile hotspot deal existent.

    Works Great!

  • la verdad

    A move by Palm before a sale – classic inventory reduction. Something’s going down behind the scenes.

    • Mrwirez

      Palm evaporates inventory to pay off the Chins. Google buy’s Palm out and neatly files away the patents to fend off Apples evil lawsuit, then sells WebOS to the highest bidder.. Possibly RIM

      Bwahhahahaha. Genius!

    • David

      Of course, BGR noted that Palm’s stock has been seriously devalued…they’re going down, but I’m sure the phone comes with a guarantee. Verizon is obligated to give you something of equal value should your Palm break (if they no longer sell it).

  • freshh

    well atleast the pre sold well at sprint… Palm needs the c40 like now..

  • Ych

    Pixi Plus has BEEN FREE at Best Buy since it first launched and Pre PLUS has been $49.99 at Best Buy as well. So what FIRE SALE ????? Verizon stores always have ridiculous prices, Walmart and Best Buy have the lower prices.

    • Jason

      Last I checked, Best Buy had it at $99 yesterday. Not sure where your $49 is coming from – BB’s website? That’s probably the pricing after signing the third-party LetsTalk contract or something.

      - Jason

      • sal

        Verizon charges $30 to use your phone as a modem. Hotspot is different than thethering. Hotspot mean when you are in starbucks for example, you will get a free connection from starbucks but when you leave you will lose that connection. There is a different between the two. I called verizon today and they said it cost 30 to use your phone as a modem. I wish they offered it fdor free but thats how they rip people off.

      • alex

        sorry but hotspot is better than tethering since you can have up to 5 devices attached to it….turns the phone into wireless router….

      • alex

        and it’s free because they are trying to move product…hopefully they will sell a lot of Pres….get some of the developers to write more apps for WebOS

      • Pete

        I believe you are incorrect. Verizon’s “hotspot” feature utilizes a 3G connection to allow a few computers to access that 3G connection via wifi. In short, the Palm becomes a router, supplying its 3G internet to local wifi devices.

      • berryg1

        You couldn’t be more wrong but it’s not surprising that many of us know more than random Verizon reps. The hotspot is tethering with your Verizon phone via wifi.

    • Jake

      Buying at Best Buy or WalMart doesn’t get you Verizon’s 1-year warranty.. just 90 days of in-store service. The devices sold at discounters like this aren’t new-in-box, either. They’re recycled inventory that comes back within Verizon’s 30-day No Worry Guarantee. Educate yourself before you talk next time.

  • tim

    Just more proof that Verizon is clearing out this excessive inventory to make room for Blackberry and android devices that actually sell!

    • Raj

      I doubt they’ll do it just to clear the inventory. They can easily return the phones to Palm and say ‘sorry, couldn’t sell’. That’s how the agreements are written between carriers and manufacturers.
      I am surprised VZ is doing this and since they are only doing this for Palm phones, they might be doing this to see ‘how people use this or how much they use’. Still, VZ will be effectively losing $30 per month if they offer the same for other phones

  • Brad

    So nice of them to make a feature free that should have been free to begin with.

    • Jake

      Yes, because allowing you internet access as a free addition to your current plan is something that they should just hand you. Even though it competes with other products and services they have that you have to pay for.

      It’s a hell of a service they’re giving away with this device and the market value for it is between $30 and $60. You don’t deserve everything for nothing.

  • Droid Lover

    The Hot Spot feature is so awesome with these palm devices – and sinces it’s FREE right now….enjoy. Who needs the MIFI when you have this. No Thanks to KH on this article though.

  • Springs

    Let them have that on the Incredible when it comes out! Or the Nexus One! Anyone remember when VZ always had the worst crippled hardware and plans that made you pay double what the competitor wanted. Now you get Free Skype. Mobile Hotspot. Plans that ATT had to lower there prices to match. Something has really changed there.

  • Andrew

    What does it cost for an unlimited data plan only? I read an idea somewhere else to buy one of these, which Wal-mart will give you +$50 for (that’s right, free w/ $50 mail in rebate) pay for a data only plan then use it for an iPad instead of paying the $30 extra to AT&T and the $150 more or whatever it is for a 3G iPad. AT&T charges like $60 a month for a 3G card for a laptop, the pre plus would be cool just as a mobile hotspot/mp3 player at the right price.

  • user

    1) Palm devices don’t have removable storage. I don’t buy devices without removable storage.
    2) Palm devices do have removable batteries. This is good.
    3) 2-year agreements (ie. contracts). Not good.
    4) I am cheap; far too cheap for this deal to be called cheap to me. See the bit about a lock-in 2-year contract.

    Real cost of phone = ?
    + 2 years of your life. Locked in.

    • la verdad

      Unlocked it is, then. In my mind (and most of the world, for that matter), it IS the way to go. Carrier gouging won’t end until phone subsidization is exposed for what it is!

      • la verdad

        After all, it’s a phone, not a mortgage!

  • Drew

    Just picked up a Pre Plus today @ Best Buy. $29 for the phone and free Mobile Hotspot. It works great on my iPad and Macbook Pro. Forget the $130 3G upcharge iPad and 3G service @ $30/mo. This way is great and the whole family can share the Mobile Hotspot when we are together on the road.

  • Vanessa

    All of this talk about the Palm bankruptcy…. evidently none of you saw that HP bought them out for like 1.2 BILLION the other day. With HP’s backing and Palm’s interface…I think good things shall come (but when?).

    Here is my question… I have had a Palm from Sprint since the one of the first Treo’s came out (at the tune of like $650). I have kept insurance on the phone and every time a new model is phased in I go in and exchange my older one for free.. From a Treo 300 all the way to now a Treo Pro 850 (although some times I have to get a replacement of the same model every few months..some of the Treo versions have had some major issues as I am sure some of you know)…

    So here is the question: I haven’t had issues with Sprint as a whole and they give me a nice government discount. I want the Pre Plus – I want the hotspot. Is it worth switching to Verizon or should I just wait for the HTC EVO 4G coming in a few months at Sprint? Your opinions are welcomed!

    Thanks!
    Vanessa

  • http://www.convenientcalendar.com Stephen Tong

    The Palm Pre Plus is an amazing phone. The only downside is the battery life but I fixed that by buying an extended battery. The only downside is that it made the phone significantly bulkier.

    I also hope the mobile hot spot stays free forever. Not that I use it much but its an awesome option when you want it.

  • Sparky

    Hotspot is free because it’s a battery suck! Even plugged in the phone only gives you about 3 hours of hotspot time before crashing. I

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