Verizon – Palm Relations Hit New Low as webOS 1.4.5 in Doubt for Pre Plus

Verizon has clarified that they are not currently releasing webOS 1.4.5 to Pre Plus device owners, adding to the existing user frustration for Pre Plus owners on Verizon Wireless.
The last significant update, webOS 1.4.1, was issued over five months ago.
After some initial disagreements between the carriers on a botched marketing rollout, Verizon and Palm renewed their efforts and rolled out the groundbreaking 5 GB of free Mobile Hotspot, an offering that is still available and vastly superior to Verizon’s newer $20 for 2 GB pricing on Android devices.
However, today Verizon noted to PhoneNews.com that there is no public status available for webOS 1.4.5 on the Pre Plus. Only the Pixi Plus has been updated to webOS 1.4.5, despite indications to the contrary from Palm and Verizon previously.
While Pre Plus owners had access to a beta version of the Palm PDK, enabling native code applications and games, Pixi and Pixi Plus owners were forced to wait until webOS 1.4.5 to gain access to PDK apps. However, Pre Plus owners stuck at webOS 1.4.1.1 are starting to be burned. The Palm App Catalog is restricting Pre and Pre Plus owners who have not yet updated to 1.4.5; they cannot run newly-released PDK applications. Palm is adding a requirement of 1.4.5 to all new PDK apps.
This is not the only issue for which Palm owners on Verizon have been suffering from long-term. The GPS issues we’ve reported in ondepth previously persist, and Verizon media representatives have informed PhoneNews.com that they have absolutely no comment on those lingering issues, instead pointing us to Palm. Palm, in turn, points us back at Verizon, noting that this is a Verizon-carrier issue.
Part of the issue may be the lackluster sales that have both Palm and Verizon likely scratching their heads at how to support these devices. While there is likely little that Palm must do to adapt updates, Verizon’s priorities internally are likely pointed at higher-volume devices like their Droid line of phones.
Verizon Palm sales have been compared to KIN in the past by sources, and previous reports point to the Pre Plus being discontinued later this month. The Pixi Plus, however, is expected to continue as a free smartphone offering through the first quarter of next year.

by:phonenews