There will be a GSM-friendly 3G Palm Pre

We've gotten Palm on the record saying that there's a WCDMA (read: UMTS world 3G) version of the Pre in the works, though we don't know when or where. That means that the AT&Ts, T-Mobiles, and Vodafones of the world will get a shot at this baby. Suggestion, Palm: "soon" and "everywhere."

Update: We've just seen a copy of the Pre's press release, and sadly, the 3G GSM version is listed as being intended for "other regions" -- in other words, places not served by Sprint. The good news, we guess, is that we've also confirmed that it's HSDPA, so at least it'll be hauling ass.

[Angus Hedger @ Jan 8th 2009 4:52PM]

Come to england, be a good price, and get into my pocket!

[drumdbeat @ Jan 8th 2009 5:02PM]

Yeah, I look forward to this too!

[Esat Dedezade @ Jan 8th 2009 5:02PM]

I am in total concurence with ^ statement.

[L @ Jan 8th 2009 5:11PM]

Couldn't have said that better myself. Other than the England part, that is - show Austria some love, Palm!

[Tonicboy @ Jan 8th 2009 5:17PM]

I can't believe how excited I am about a Palm product. Come on, GSM baby!

[Kris120890 @ Jan 8th 2009 5:24PM]

I want it in England too.

[required @ Jan 8th 2009 5:25PM]

One of the things I really dig about this product is that it looks foremost like a phone. Really liking its curvature.

Take note Apple.

[KIFF @ Jan 8th 2009 5:29PM]

Why did Engadget strike out T-Mob?

There are T-Mobile networks outside the US. In fact T-Mobile is a European carrier.

[Angus Hedger @ Jan 8th 2009 5:30PM]

T-mobile in the UK is very good, for me anyway ;]

[Jake B @ Jan 8th 2009 5:37PM]

Bring it to the UK with a switchblade built into it. Take that Anti-Weapons British government.

[Homeboy @ Jan 8th 2009 6:04PM]

I want one badly too. Let's hope that we will be able to buy it unbranded here in London. Don't want some corny T-mobile or Orange logo on my little pebble.

[Gene @ Jan 8th 2009 7:53PM]

China welcomes you too~~~

Palm revives...??? hope so~~~

[Patriks7 @ Jan 8th 2009 7:53PM]

"show Austria some love, Palm!"
Couldn't have said that better! But I won't have problems buying it unlocked in some other country and then just pop in my card..

[Ty @ Jan 8th 2009 8:09PM]

Bit late but... yeah! The second this comes to England (probably Orange) ima buy it!
Looks amazing

[David @ Jan 8th 2009 10:40PM]

No USA? Then come to CANADA!!

[Ellianth @ Jan 8th 2009 4:53PM]

I think i want this phone. The information isn't coming in fast enough! I hope they have it on my carrier for a reasonable price.

[prateeko @ Jan 8th 2009 5:54PM]

Looks like reasonable won't be the case for American since it seems the only way to get one is to import it unlocked :(

[Craig @ Jan 8th 2009 4:54PM]

Dear Rest of World,
There...now shut yer pie hole.
Love,
America

[decypher44 @ Jan 8th 2009 5:00PM]

Great post!!!

[Vanillacide @ Jan 8th 2009 7:38PM]

Yeah, shut your pie-hole rest of world because Palm has a new phone that will only work in USA -- and not on all networks -- and won't work in the rest of the world because all those other countries use a global standard for mobiles.

Let's hope it's not too long before Palm create a version that works in the rest of the world "though we don't know when or where".

[Verythrax @ Jan 8th 2009 4:55PM]

Why is this CDMA just when the last CDMA carrier around here is migrating to GSM? (brazil)

[Craig @ Jan 8th 2009 4:59PM]

Read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UMTS

[Jonathan @ Jan 8th 2009 4:58PM]

Yippee!! Now if only I didn't live in one of the most expensive countries for mobile data! (Canada).


One step at a time. Great work Palm. Congrats on the launch.

[GenoMalice @ Jan 8th 2009 5:17PM]

I concur.

...(Rogers - iPhone)

[Jonathan @ Jan 8th 2009 5:42PM]

No Sprint in Canada!! Only one GSM provider!!! Yippee!!

(sure, no competition, high costs, but at least I don't have to switch carriers)

[Damir @ Jan 11th 2009 5:47PM]

Hopefully Bell picks it up and I can use my 15 dollars per month unlimited data plan on it!!!

[James @ Jan 8th 2009 5:03PM]

Maybe because in the US, there are still more than one carrier that currently is operating with CDMA?

--James

[Lane @ Jan 8th 2009 5:00PM]

Just don't be like the iPhone and have an exclusive carrier everywhere. That'd be AWESOME!

[drumdbeat @ Jan 8th 2009 5:03PM]

2nded.

[Viakenny @ Jan 8th 2009 5:28PM]

here in Brazil, three networks carry the iPhone: Vivo (market #1), Claro (#2) and TIM (#3).
of the major networks, only Oi (#4) doesn't carry it. but if it was on Oi, it would HAVE TO be factory-unlocked (Oi prefers selling commitment-free services rather than devices, and sells only unlocked devices).

[Verythrax @ Jan 8th 2009 6:04PM]

@Viakenny: and I was picturing the Pre exactly in Oi's hands ;)

Greetins from Campinas.

[mko @ Jan 10th 2009 2:42PM]

Here in Turkey cell phone market is huge. Yet carrier contract phones are unheard of.
Iphone is available as unlocked and all three operators support it.
But it's not popular at all because of its 1300 TRL (over 800 $) price tag (16gb)

[CJ @ Feb 21st 2009 3:16AM]

Here, in Australia, we have three major carriers with it, Optus, Telstra, and Vodaphone.

Not to mention you can walk into (certain) shops and buy one outright.

[kjb434 @ Jan 8th 2009 5:04PM]

Well, we'll have to wait in the US for at minimum 6 months but maybe as long as 9 to see a GSM version. Palm Pre has exclusivity agreements with Sprint that bars other carriers.

Of course, getting an unlocked on overseas if they end up coming out there first is a possibility

[sr @ Jan 8th 2009 8:29PM]

Ha Ha they went with the turd of all carriers in the world. Yeah this thing will sell in the US mostly to cheap asses who can't afford a real carrier and actual service that works.

[Esat Dedezade @ Jan 8th 2009 5:05PM]

I am in total concurence with ^ statement also.

[Esat Dedezade @ Jan 8th 2009 5:11PM]

Damn... I was reffering to Lane's statement.

[ether3a1 @ Jan 8th 2009 5:06PM]

Good, because I wouldn't even dare become a Sprint subscriber.

I'm sorry, but their horrible customer service (or lack of any customer service) and the poor service quality I've encountered through using friends phones will keep me from ever becoming a customer. The phone looks good, and I'll probably venture into a Sprint store to check it out, but I'll be waiting for it to hit AT&T.

[Sean @ Jan 8th 2009 5:16PM]

I wouldn't say there cs is that bad anymore. I changed my rate plan and they threw me 900 bonus minutes. The good part about it was i never asked for any free minutes, they just gave me it for free. There customer service use to be horrible, but it is getting better.

[Dualboot @ Jan 8th 2009 5:40PM]

This may be a result of me being a business customer, but I find Sprint to be OK. I would like to see some more of the BB products, but for the ones they have and their customer service, they're OK. I can't really speak to the coverage because I rarely travel far. I will however say that while other Verizon and t-Mobile customers have to leave the building to get a signal, my Sprint BB is just fine...

[ProfBib @ Mar 20th 2009 2:31PM]

I agree with you. I used to be a Sprint customer and, although the grass is not perfectly green on the T-Mobile side of the fence, I am quite happy with their customer service and phone selection. Plus, I travel to Europe quite often and Sprint's offering of world-phones is worthless.

[Darwin Smith @ Jan 8th 2009 5:13PM]

That's all I needed to hear because I hate Sprint!

[a ham sandwich @ Jan 8th 2009 5:08PM]

i think some ceo's at verizon just shat bricks.

[WhiteStar @ Jan 8th 2009 5:10PM]

God, please let it have a proper headphone jack.

[Esat Dedezade @ Jan 8th 2009 5:12PM]

Your prayers have been answered.

It has a 3.5mm headphone jack.

[L @ Jan 8th 2009 5:12PM]

It has. And A2DP, in case you want to go wireless at some point.

I can't spot a serious flaw in it yet, other than the lack of autofocus for the camera...

[Alex C @ Jan 8th 2009 5:42PM]

There are a few flaws I think:

1) 320x480? I think we can do a little better than that.
2) A little too much dead space for my tastes. Notice Treo 650 hardly has ANY room to fit more things. Could easily squeeze .2" more into the screen.

That's basically it though. I've been waiting patiently with my Treo 650 in hand for Palm to release a new product. I really want to hear some reviews on performance of this beast.

Congrats Palm! Finally up to speed (and surpassed) with other companies.

[Esat Dedezade @ Jan 8th 2009 6:41PM]

Alex dont forget the space beneath the screen IS responsive to tough. It's the gesture area. However useable viewing space is wasted like you said.

[Sharon @ Jan 8th 2009 5:11PM]

What about CDMA, for those without carrier without sim card - USCellular??

[Phoenix @ Jan 8th 2009 5:16PM]

they announced the damn CDMA version FIRST.