Palm Pre Available for AT&T and T-Mobile Customers

Ed Hardy · 10-21-2009, 03:49 PM

AT&T and T-Mobile customers can now get a Palm Pre without having to switch to Sprint. There are a few caveats, though, as this version of the first webOS smartphone lacks 3G and has a slightly modified keyboard.

Sprint has an agreement with Palm, Inc. to be the sole provider of the Palm Pre in the United States. However, this device is being sold unlocked in Germany, and gray-market retailers like eXpansys are bringing this webOS-based smartphone across the Atlantic.

The good news is that this version can be used with any GSM carrier, including AT&T and T-Mobile.

It also allows users to pick their language: English, German, Spanish, French or Italian.

The bad news starts with the keyboard. This version of the Pre has the QWERTZ keyboard layout that is preferred in Germany. However, the only difference is that the Z and Y keys are swapped.

Worse, it doesn't support the 3G frequencies used in the U.S., so it is limited to the 2.5G standard EDGE. However, it does have Wi-Fi, giving users very high-speed data access when near a hotspot.

And the selling price is high: $715. Still, buying it does not require signing a voice or data contract.

The device does not have any carrier branding on it.

Availability
eXpansys has already shipped its first shipment of unlocked Palm Pre units, but is expecting a second one in soon.

Those who would like to order one can do so from the eXpansys USA website.

An Overview of the Palm Pre and the webOS
The Palm Pre uses Palm's webOS, the replacement for the venerable Palm OS. This is a new, multi-tasking operating system able to wirelessly synchronize a wide variety of data with online services like Google and Facebook, as well as Microsoft Exchange.

The webOS includes an on-device app store, and a growing collection of third-party software is available.

The Pre itself features a sliding keyboard as well as a multi-touch-capable 3.1-inch display. This device is also equipped with 8 GB of on-board storage (7 GB available to users), Wi-Fi b/g, Bluetooth 2.1, GPS, and a 3.0 megapixel camera with LED flash.

U.S. residents who want this smartphone with mobile broadband, a QWERTY keyboard, etc. can order it from Sprint for $150 with a two-year voice and data contract. Or they can wait until next year, when Verizon will begin carrying it.

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Antoine Wright · 10-21-2009, 04:40 PM

That's a high price just to get it in the US. Unless you are doing some deals to get data cheaper than normal, it might not be a best buy at that price.

Nevertheless, its good to have the choice (now).

Ed Hardy · 10-21-2009, 05:44 PM

One thing to keep in mind is that if you go with Sprint's version of the Pre, the least expensive service plan you can get is $70 a month. This plan includes unlimited data -- which I think is a great thing to have -- but it's not cheap. The plan, which includes 450 minutes of talktime a month, totals up to $1,680 over two years. If you don't want unlimited data, buying this device will cost you more up front but will save you in the long run.
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Hook · 10-21-2009, 07:38 PM

But, unlike a Symbian or WM device, most of it's uses and tricks at this point involve a data connection. Unless you are going to turn it into a very expensive Palm Garnet device with Classic, until there is really a decent array of non-web centrc productivity apps for WebOS, there really isn't much to recommend paying $700.

Nonetheless, I too am glad the choice is being made available