Palm Pre On Pre-Order In The UK
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The itproportal website of the UK reports that two online retailers in the UK - Handtec and mphone - have begun taking pre-orders for the "SIM free" version of the Palm Pre, Palm's first webOS (its new operating system designed to challenge the likes of the iPhoneOS, Android, Symbian and Windows Mobile) smartphone. SIM free are unlocked phones, ie. not locked to any particular network, and hence commands a hefty premium over carrier locked phones. It is surprising that these two e-tailers have managed to get their hands on unlocked Pres, because the Pre is supposed to be exclusive to the O2 network in the UK, and hence expected to be carrier locked. Handtec is listing the phone at £449.99 before VAT (ie. UK "sales tax"), approximately RM 2,563, while mphone is listing it for £391.29, approximately RM 2,229. Inclusive of VAT, they cost £517.49 (RM 2,947) and £449.98 (RM 2,563) respectively. If I may say so myself, the pre-VAT pricing is very attractive, but I wonder if and when Palm decides to release it in Malaysia, whether we will see an equally competitive pricing? I certainly hope so - the trend in smartphone pricing seems to be downwards lately, and everyone and their dog is pricing new smartphones using the contract-free pricing of the iPhone3GS as a benchmark. Sadly, the dailymirror newspaper and website reports that the press event to launch the Pre in the UK a few days ago was a "damp squib" affair,with the handsets kept under wraps with no photography allowed and the Pres "plagued by software problems". Not good. Palm is also due to report their latest quarterly financial figures sometime very soon, so we shall see if its exclusive partnership with Sprint in the US has reaped it any benefits at all. Sadly, according to the Sprint CEO, Dan Hesse, he doesn't think the Pre is in the same league as the iPhone. Via itproportal. I'm sure we'll see our favourite local "grey importers" carrying unlocked versions of the Palm Pre sometime before Christmas, if not sooner, after their UK/European availability. So if you happen to stumble upon them first, do come back and leave a comment!
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