Network World took a look at the two sides of analysts making predictions for the Pre; one side forcasting success, the other proclaiming doom.  It seems industry analysts either love the Pre and feel it will succeed because of its smooth user interface and features that were missing from the iPhone, or they call it a mistake for Palm and Sprint.  Like I said before, we won’t know until the numbers come out after the Pre is released, but I’m still certain the Pre will succeed, just not by everyone’s standards.

Doomsayers are citing Sprint’s weak numbers and losses, as well as Pre’s abandonment of the developer community (not according to this).  Sprint recorded loss of $98 million in the third quarter, and the network hasn’t been exactly winning over subscribers, even with the improved customer service.  Palm has been a dying brand for the last few years, surviving on its reputation as a former Silicon Valley giant, and releasing devices that are unable to compete with devices like the iPhone. Put those two factors together, and some analysts call it a recipe for failure.

On the other end of the analyst spectrum, the more optimistic individuals are calling it a chance for two formerly-prominent companies to regain their place in the industry and make a comeback.  The Palm Pre is a device with a refined user interface, besting the iPhone according to some, and has many features that iPhone users have been asking for all along.  While it may not take users away from AT&T by the droves, the Pre can revive two dying companies by introducing a device into the market that will win over dumb-phone users, as well as business class users that have avoided the iPhone and stuck with their Treos and Blackberries.

Looking beyond that, Palm has the hottest new phone operating system on the block that might even be suitable for Netbooks, and will be seen on many phones to come.  Palm isn’t bound to Sprint with the Pre or webOS, and can move from carrier to carrier world-wide, almost ensuring continued success, as long as webOS is as refinedas if not more so than the demo units we’ve seen.  Palm has a future regardless of what happens on Pre launch day. I’m hoping, for both Sprint and Palm’s sake though, that the Pre meets nothing but success.

[Via NetworkWorld]

Palm Pre: 26-minutes live demo!