I read an article at Electronista saying that Palm could sell as many as 1.5 million Pre smartphones in a year. This is according to an investment note by Citi analyst Jim Suva. Suva has upgraded Palm's stock rating from "sell" to "hold" based on the technical abilities of the Pre, Palm's first large touchscreen smartphone.

I also read an article over at MarketWatch wich quotes Suva saying:

"Pre looks like a game changer for Palm and [a] sell rating is no longer warranted," Suva said in a research note. "With the company's long-term viability in doubt, Palm debuted the best new handset we have seen in quite some time."

Game changer indeed. From what I've seen and read so far, the Pre is the coolest smartphone I've ever seen. It's eye candy inside and out.

Suva also said that Palm could have a very rugged February quarter and a potentially tough May quarter until Pre is actually launched. Citi Group seems to think that many carriers and consumers will wait for Pre rather than order older Treos or Centros.

I sure hope that the Pre will be available from Palm unlocked sometime soon. I'm not switching to Sprint but might consider opening an account at Sprint just to get a Pre.

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Palm sell over a million Pre smartphones in the first year. Heck, they could sell 2 million.

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