Sim-free Palm Pré pre-orders tip up in UK
Yours for at least £450
Palm’s must-have new smartphone, the Pré, has popped up for pre-order on the websites of two different UK-based retailers.
Blighty's gadget-mad can pre-order a Pré through Handtec
HandTec is now accepting advance orders for £517.49 ($856/€588), while mPhone will put a Pré aside on your behalf for a slightly more pocketable £449.98 ($827/€568).
Both retailers list the Pré as a Sim-free device, but neither has indicated when the first UK deliveries will be made.
Neither Palm nor O2 – which has a UK exclusive on the Pré – have confirmed when the device will officially be available to buy in the UK, or how much it will cost.
...or through mPhone
Expansys, another online retailer specialising in smartphones, still lists the Pré as merely “coming soon”. The retailer hasn’t stated a potential Pré price. ®
COMMENTS
Hoping for unlocked retail
My contract with Orange is absolutely killer and I'm dreading the prospect of having to jump ship to o2. I've been working my way to coming to terms with the idea, but this is a small ray of hope for me. Even if these people do look like cowboys.
It's a red herring
Sim Free is meaningless when it's not Network Restriction free
A pox on 02!
What's with the MiniSD in the specs ?
I thought the Palm Pre was 8Gb and that's yer lot.
Rip off?
Either those resellers are trying to rip us off, or the Pré is bound to fail completely with such an unrealistic price tag.
Even with a $300 or $350 subsidy, the Pré doesn't stand a chance at surviving against the Android crowd at this price.
Is it Genuine?
I have been a keen supporter of the Palm product range since the days of the Palm Pilot. Always impressed by it, in particular the enthusiastic support provided by enthusiasts and companies in the creation and supply of free or cheap third-party apps.
I was very disappointed to hear that Palm had chosen to release the Pré only to a limited number of network suppliers because it goes strictly 'against the grain' of flexibility and freedom of choice. I am happy with my existing service provider as many other people are with them. Like me they do not wish to be forced to switch contracts or to be limited when travelling to other countries. When I travel I usually buy a pre-paid card for the duration.
So, are the subject offers genuine from Palm or will they be 'unlocked' by the distributor potentially exposing buyers to later hassles when Palm decides to re-lock the phone at a later date?
