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Mere hours after the Palm Pre went on sale at retailers across the companies, long lines and shortages of the mobile device were being reported.  Many Sprint stores had to start waiting lists in order to deal with the dwindling supply.  One store in San Francisco sold out of their initial stock of 60 Palm Pre phones in less than two hours and reported that many of the buyers already owned an iPhone.

Sprint has yet to release any sales data for the Palm Pre, but estimates for weekend sale range between 50,000 and 200,000.  The Palm had hoped that their timing of the release of the Pre would prove beneficial.  Apple is expected to potentially announce the development of a new version of their iPhone.  It is the hope of Palm and Sprint that the must have device of the year will be the Pre.

To make a push for sales, invite only events were held nationally by Sprint in order to give preferred customers the option of buying the Pre early.  There has been buzz building for several months about the Pre and it is the hope of Sprint that the device will surpass consumer’s expectations. 

Read: [Washington Post]