UPDATE 2-Fans gather for launch of 'iPhone killer' Palm Pre

* Sprint hopes Pre will win back market share

* Small crowds in New York, Chicago and San Francisco

* Hoping for corporate users (Adds details from San Francisco stores)

By Sinead Carew and Jessica Wohl

NEW YORK/CHICAGO, June 6 (Reuters) - Small crowds gathered on Saturday for the official launch of Pre, the smartphone seen as Palm Inc's best chance to claw back market share from Apple Inc's iPhone and Research In Motion Ltd's (RIM.TO) Blackberry.

The new high-end phone, considered a pivotal product for both Palm (PALM.O) and Sprint Nextel (S.N), has been greeted by rave reviews. [ID:nN04319543]

Lines were far shorter than those that snaked around Apple (AAPL.O) stores for its first hugely popular iPhone two years ago, but many consumers said they were eager for the new product.

"I wanted their iPhone killer. I've been anticipating this for a while," said Peter Lewis, who bought phones for himself and his wife at a Sprint store in Chicago, where some 45 people were in line when the doors opened at 8 a.m.

"This is my birthday present to myself," said Wilma Rivera, 36, a heating technician who brought her 17-month-old daughter to Sprint's flagship store in Manhattan.