A war of words has cropped up between Sprint CEO Dan Hesse and Verizon Wireless CEO Lowell McAdam in regards to Sprint’s exclusivity period for the Pre. In a webcast, McAdam said that Verizon Wireless would get the Palm Pre in 6 months or so – a statement which Sprint spokesman James Fisher acknowledged. He said, “We have the Pre through 2009,” and many assumed that meant it was free game in January – not so fast says Dan Hesse.

“They need to check their facts,” Hesse said in an interview at a press event here to launch the Palm Pre. “That just is not the case. Both Palm and Sprint have agreed not to discuss the length of the exclusivity deal. But I can tell you it’s not six months.”

The words by McAdam may have already done their damage. Rumors that the Palm Pre would be available on Verizon Wireless within the next 6 months could have already encouraged many to hold off until it lands there. Unless they’re a real gadgeteer, it is quite possible they hear the initial rumor and never the clarification.

My guess is that – like many people and websites – McAdam is using Palm Pre and WebOS interchangeably when in fact they are two different things. No, Verizon Wireless isn’t going to get the Palm Pre within about 6 months… they are going to get a WebOS based phone that works like the Palm Pre in about 6 months. Eventually they’ll get the Pre but if I had to guess, the Pre/WebOS debacle is at the core of the mixup.

Again, just a guess… time will tell. But are Verizon customers willing to wait to find out?

[Via CNET]