No Dell Streak sale in July, spokesman says

Computerworld - The 5-inch Dell Streak tablet won't go on sale by the end of July, a spokesman said late Tuesday. That announcement came after Dell earlier in the day mistakenly posted an online message on its Web site that customers could return to the site Wednesday to purchase the device.

"It was a mistake, and we took that information down this morning," said spokesman Matt Parretta in a telephone interview. "I can say definitely that the Dell Streak won't go on sale in July."

Parretta noted that Dell said in May that the device would go on sale sometime this summer.

Androidpolice and other Web sites caught the message posted in error today, and then later said customers who signed up for a pre-sale offer could expect an e-mail today with a link to purchase a new phone for $299 with a new AT&T contract.

Dell and AT&T would not confirm that pricing, although Dell has said the device will run on a GSM network in the U.S. and has ruled out the only other GSM carrier, T-Mobile USA.

Parretta's statement that the Streak won't go on sale in July contradicts an FAQ still on the Dell site as of late Tuesday that accompanies the pre-sale registration form.

In the FAQ, the question is asked, "When will the Dell Streak be available for purchase?" And the answer given is: "The Dell Streak will be available for purchase in late July!"

Parretta said he was not aware of the statement, adding, "I've never said that."

Matt Hamblen covers mobile and wireless, smartphones and other handhelds, and wireless networking for Computerworld. Follow Matt on Twitter at @matthamblen or subscribe to Matt's RSS feed. His e-mail address is mhamblen@computerworld.com.

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