HP’s first high-end webOS smartphone will not be released on Sprint, the launch partner for the original Palm Pre

Technology site This is My Next is reporting that the Pre 3, HP’s first high-end webOS powered smartphone, will not be launching on wireless carrier Sprint. This news is significant considering Sprint was the launch partner of the original Palm Pre and it is thought Sprint has the most webOS fans of any carrier in the U.S.

According to the report published late last week, Sprint will not offer the HP Pre 3 and there is even quite a bit of doubt over Sprint and HP’s future together. The main source for the report did not provide a reason for the decision, but the original Palm Pre had very disappointing sales when it launched on Sprint way back in 2009. 

Similarly for Palm and Sprint both, the entire ordeal was actually a real let down. Neither made a lot on sales and the six-month exclusivtiy window meant Palm wasn’t able to launch the Pre on Verizon soon enough. By the time it actually did launch on Verizon, the original Droid was already on the market and Android was growing at a tremenous rate.

At this point, it’s unclear if this signals an overall end to webOS-powered smartphones on Sprint, but if true, it’s certainly a sad day indeed.

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