 Palm,
Inc. today announced that the GSM/UMTS Palm Pre is scheduled to be available
initially in the UK, Ireland and Germany exclusively on the O2 network, and in
Spain exclusively on the Movistar network, in time for the holidays.
Palm Pre, the first phone based on the new Palm webOS mobile platform, brings
your information from the many places it resides - on your phone, at work or on
the web - into one simple, integrated view.
Palm Pre introduces a breakthrough user interface and hardware design that
makes it one of the most integrated and user-friendly mobile phones on the
market. Featuring a smooth, elegantly rounded ergonomic design and a physical
keyboard that slides out only when needed, Palm Pre is engineered to feel
natural in your hand and comfortably small in your pocket. When closed, Palm Pre
is ideal for phone calls, web browsing, music, photos and videos; when open,
Palm Pre is optimized for email and text messaging. It provides an exceptional
experience for phone calls, whether held to your ear, over speakerphone or via
Bluetooth.
With its curved slider and gesture-controlled touch interface, Palm Pre fuses
exquisite design with the revolutionary webOS software for fast access to
content on the device or web. Invented exclusively for mobile use, webOS offers
an instinctive user experience that seems to anticipate your needs.
"Europe continues to be an important region for Palm, and we're proud to
work with O2 and Movistar to spread the excitement Palm Pre has already
ignited in North America," said Jon Rubinstein, Palm chairman and chief
executive officer. "Since we showed Palm Pre at Mobile World Congress in
February, there's been a great deal of anticipation for an announcement
about European availability, and that day is here."
"We are fast becoming the home of the smartphone with the addition of the
hotly-anticipated Palm Pre to our already extensive portfolio," said Matthew
Key, chairman and chief executive officer, Telefónica Europe. "Our customers
will be the first outside of North America to experience one of the most
successful mobile devices of the year."
The Palm Pre will be available in time for Christmas from O2 UK, O2 Germany,
O2 Ireland and Movistar Spain. Prices weren't announced today.
UPDATE: According to sources, the European release can be expected for
October and the GSM Palm Pre is said to feature quadband GSM/GPRS/EDGE as well
as dualband UMTS/HSDPA at 900/2100 MHz.
As always, O2 (Germany) will offer the device SIM free and unlocked as well as
without a contract. For sure, the subsidized version will be cheaper anyway.
Cheers ~ Arne
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