- I’m as skeptical about the success of the Pre as much as the next guy, but if web traffic has anything to do with it, the buzz about Palm’s new baby seems to be near 2007 iPhone launch levels. Ok, the numbers aren’t that close, but consider this:
- First, with the iPhone, the majority of the traffic throughout the period shown includes traffic to all of Apple.com, which was already a top 100 website according to Compete.
- Second, although the numbers surrounding the iPhone launch were stronger than the Pre, keep in mind it was Apple’s first entrance into the phone market. Palm has been around for a minute or two. So, does this traffic mean that word about the Pre has spread to the masses? I still argue that if you ask ten people walking down the street, your random sample would have some pretty sorry results. If you asked 10 people walking down the street if they had heard of the iPhone 3 months before an expected launch date, you would have gotten a Yes, 9 out of 10 times (unless you want to throw out the 90 yeard old outliers, then let’s call it an even 10 out of 10).
Update: I’m going to walk outside the office and take a poll. I consider Santa Monica to be quite the tech saavy crowd, especially near Colorodo Blvd. I’m going to ask 50 people whether or not they have heard of the Pre. Check back with me in 20 minutes….