14 DAY TRIAL // Sunnyvale-based mobile phone maker Palm announced a while ago that its webOS powered Pre, already available in the US via wireless carrier Sprint, would soon come to the UK market via O2's airwaves, yet no exact launch date has been unveiled. However, it might not be too long before the UK operator releases the Palm Pre on its network, as the device has just become available for pre-order via different retailers in the country.
The best part about purchasing the Pre this way is that it will come unlocked, yet users will have to pay a great deal of money for it. To be more specific, Palm's webOS-powered smartphone can be pre-ordered from HandTec, where it sports a price tag of £517.49 ( around $856 or €588), or from mPhone, where the handset is listed for £449.98 (around $827 or €568).
In addition to the two retailers, the Palm Pre can also be spotted on Expansys' website, only that here it features the Coming soon tag, and no price for it is listed. On the other hand, it should also be noted that none of the retailers states exactly when the handset will come to the market, though the fact that users can already order the Pre in advance might suggest the launch will be made in the near future.
What users will get when purchasing this device includes a 3.1-inch touchscreen display that boasts a 320 x 480 pixel resolution (HVGA), a sliding QWERTY keyboard, a 3.2-megapixel photo snapper with LED flash, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR with A2DP, 8GB of internal user storage, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, GPS receiver, a 3.5mm headset jack, accelerometer, proximity sensor, a powerful Internet browser, IM, SMS and MMS capabilities, email support (Outlook EAS, POP3, IMAP), as well as a variety of applications that enhance the user experience.