Data tethering is a go on Palm Pre

There are many things the Pre can do. Tragically, swallow a microSD card whole (or otherwise) is not one of them, which is kind of unfortunate considering that only 7.4GB of the integrated 8GB will be available to the user -- but it turns out that tethering, thankfully, is. Newly-published tech specs on Sprint's site reveal that you'll be able to use your little EV-DO Rev. A monster as a modem both over Bluetooth and USB cable -- something the Pre's arch nemesis cannot so far (at least, not in any official capacity). Whether this helps push AT&T and Apple over the edge remains to be seen, but in the meantime, we'll be pushing close to a megabit per second upstream, thank you very much.

[Via PreCentral]

[Team Louish @ Feb 11th 2009 9:07PM]

I just wish sprint didn't charge so much for phone as modem service. I do like though how you can easily activate it for only a few months without signing a longer contract (in case you were going on vacation and didnt need a 2 year contract wireless modem)

[D @ Feb 11th 2009 9:13PM]

meh- all of them charge a arm and a leg...

[Flashpoint @ Feb 11th 2009 9:13PM]

the hype behind the pre will fade away within 3 or 4 months. AT&T should let the iPhone data Tether. Its lifespan will long outlast the rest of these "toys"

[Daniel @ Feb 11th 2009 9:17PM]

*Flashpoint
Over 30 fart apps and counting. What is a "toy" again?

[Knee to the Groin @ Feb 11th 2009 9:44PM]

Truely something the iPhone will NEVER accomplish: 1 megapit upstream...

[aYe aye @ Feb 11th 2009 9:48PM]

Yeah, it'll probably outlast it's battery's lifespan too

[bill cant fart @ Feb 11th 2009 9:58PM]

@Groin to the Knee

Mega Pit? Is that a massive armpit or something?

[Jacob @ Feb 11th 2009 9:59PM]

Flashpoint- shut your freaking mouth. Palm was in the smartphone biz for years before Apple came up with their "dumbphone". I guarantee you haven't used this phone, so your opinion is functionally IRRELEVANT!

[ProfessorDex @ Feb 11th 2009 10:40PM]

@ Jacob

Saying "I guarantee you haven't used this phone" to someone about a product that hasn't been officially released yet, is pretty much the next best thing to wearing an "I'm with Stupid" T-Shirt and being by yourself.

[VanillaSpice @ Feb 11th 2009 11:20PM]

Correct, Professor, and additionally, one wonders whether Jacob also derides anti-Apple comments when it is clear the commentor has not used an Apple product.

Of course he does not. His problem is not that Flashpoint has not used the Pre ... his problem was the existence of a pro-Apple comment, and that is it.

[jojo @ May 10th 2009 6:49AM]

I started with my treo 600 via BT...650, 755 now with touch..is that a big deal?

[aYe aye @ Feb 12th 2009 2:21AM]

@bill

The article used to read "megapit upstream" and has since been corrected...

[loosely_coupled @ Feb 12th 2009 7:49PM]

megapit! lol

[ShogunMaster @ Feb 11th 2009 9:07PM]

The lack of Micro-SD is a bit of a killer for me. Might be waiting for the Pre2. Though everything else about this phone is bitch-cakes-awesome!

[Isaac @ Feb 11th 2009 9:21PM]

Yeah, for me I don't know if I can handle its lack of holographic memory storage. I really need 700 gigs of storage space.

I guess I will wait for the pre3.

[Craig @ Feb 11th 2009 9:48PM]

700 gigs?! what's the matter...only been using a computer for a couple of weeks?

I mean, let's get serious...any true media fan obviously needs a minimum of 4 terabytes on their phone. Anything less is a non-starter.

[webon @ Feb 12th 2009 12:07AM]

4tb... thats my pr0n collection

[CJ @ Feb 12th 2009 8:46AM]

Small collection

[Erik @ Feb 11th 2009 9:08PM]

That's approximately 8,388,608 pits per second upstream. Go Engadget.

[zioncat @ Feb 11th 2009 9:08PM]

I don't need need the mobile web. I just want this phone, release it Sprint come on.....

[Craig @ Feb 11th 2009 9:48PM]

Um, but...the "mobile web" is kinda the POINT of this phone.

[Eric @ Feb 11th 2009 11:27PM]

I think he's talking about mobile modem internet tethering computer thing.

he just said it real dum.

[thethirdmoose @ Feb 11th 2009 9:09PM]

Oh, this is so awesome. Makes me want one even more :)

[Mile @ Feb 11th 2009 9:09PM]

EV-DO Rev. A is faster than 3G? And yes, I really don't know, and while I could Google it, I think the brain trust here can answer me.

[yanks86 @ Feb 11th 2009 9:12PM]

EVDO Rev A is 3g. I usually experience speeds 800kbps to 1mbps on my treo 800w. I haven't checked the latency.

[a ham sandwich @ Feb 11th 2009 9:14PM]

If i'm not mistaken, EV-DO Rev. A is a faster variant of the 3G EV-DO standard.

oh, and http://letmegooglethatforyou.com/?q=EV-DO+Rev.+A+is+faster+than+3G%3F

[Setnev @ Feb 11th 2009 9:16PM]

No EV-DO Rev A is 3G. Its is included in the 3G specification. 3G is only the family of Mobile Network Technology. From 3G you have two specification, GSM & CDMA2000, which are 2 different technologies, with one using SIM cards and the other not. Now network speeds may vary depending on the carrier, but as most know, Sprint is known for having the fastest data network.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution-Data_Optimized

[Tripp @ Feb 12th 2009 5:11AM]

Scrubs reference? Nice.

[required @ Feb 11th 2009 9:10PM]

My MOTOKRZR does this. Weird that the iPhone does not. Good that the Palm Pre will.

[[e-mail] @ Feb 11th 2009 9:13PM]

Gotta tell you: I own the iPhone, have bought, tried, and returned the Storm (eesh), and am looking forward to the Pre. It looks awesome.

[Eric @ Feb 11th 2009 11:29PM]

sheep.

[dan @ Feb 12th 2009 4:41AM]

'Cause sheep are well known for trying everything out and choosing their favourite?

[luv_carrier_branding_:) @ Feb 11th 2009 9:13PM]

competition FTW!!!

[mr2dxtream @ Feb 11th 2009 9:14PM]

funny no ieyephone fanboy post on this one.....tether got ya tongue

[iB3nji @ Feb 11th 2009 9:28PM]

I am a huge iPhone 3G fan but i am going to admit, yes its got my tongue the iPhone 3G should of got tethering ages ago (excluding jailbroken iPhones). I would expect apple to bring tethering to the iPhone as the rumors suggest as competition is one of the best things.

[Look_Around_You @ Feb 11th 2009 9:33PM]

Apple cant.

It would be considered "copying", which is considered a deadly sin by its users.

So Apple if officially barred from tethering.

[Eric @ Feb 11th 2009 11:31PM]

I was under the impression Palm has a patent on tethering. the legal rights could be hairy.

[PeterF @ Feb 11th 2009 9:14PM]

What is with internal storage only? 8GB is pathetic if it isn't expandable. Why not include more internal storage if they absolutely refuse to have a microSD slot? An 8GB microSD card costs $15!

[gene-o @ Feb 11th 2009 9:18PM]

Yeah but a lot of the data wont be stored on the phone but on the internet

[Boards of Canada @ Feb 12th 2009 3:40AM]

whats wrong with 8gb... its not a mp3 player. Most Iphone in the streets have 4-8gb... no one complain. Most last year netbooks have 4gb!

[Neil @ Feb 11th 2009 9:17PM]

Is this such a big deal? I remember my old SE T610 doing this (and that was around 5 or 6 years ago). You'd think all phones would be able to do this by now.

[Al @ Feb 11th 2009 11:39PM]

Nah dude, its trendy for trendy phones to not have features that phones from 5 years ago had.

[Hamidxa @ Feb 12th 2009 7:17AM]

Neil, it's not a big deal.
WinMo phones have been able to do this for several years now.

I use mine as a wireless router in fact that multiple PC's can connect to, lets see Apple do that.

The reason Engadget is making a big deal out of it is because their precious and coveted iPhone can not/does not support tethering, so naturally this must be some sort of crazy new super high tech black magic or else it would have been on the iPhone as well...

[muol @ Feb 11th 2009 9:21PM]

It wouldn't be a Palm if this device didn't have at least one major glitch. This time it's the missing expansion card again. Palm Vx anyone?

[TheSuburbanWhiteBoy @ Feb 11th 2009 9:22PM]

I'm putting my iphone on ebay as soon as this comes out

[Jae @ Feb 11th 2009 9:22PM]

why is it SO unfortunate that the Pre only has 8GB built in when the iPhone is the same capacity-wise. Sure there's a 16GB version too but who's to say that Palm won't come out with a 16GB later on. Seriously...I don't remember not one article complaining of the iPhone's lack of microSD slot but the Pre gets dogged on ever since the specs were leaked.

[Jonathan @ Feb 11th 2009 9:37PM]

I think the thing is that this device is so much. They're sooo close. They've been a company who has always had external storage and for them to come out with a game-changing device and leave it out just kinda hurts.

The microsd would have been a nice nail.

[Michael B @ Feb 11th 2009 11:10PM]

Jae: Good Point

Jon: Palm makes this kind of mistake over and over, it's no big surprise. At least that's been my experience with them back when I had a Treo 650.

[Freakin Ijit @ Feb 12th 2009 6:09AM]

According to a poster over on Boy Genius who, unusually, no one seems to be seriously questioning the veracity of:

>>> Pre is not produced. Only about 200 alphas have left china. Production has not occurred.
>>> Beta has not occurred. Final physical specs have not been settled.

That latter part is the important one.

It could have micro-SD still!

[Freakin Ijit @ Feb 12th 2009 6:10AM]

I forgot the link to that comment (that has been repeated elsewhere as other sites also quote the post):

http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/02/10/more-sprint-details-new-treo-pro-target-launch-rumor-2-instinct-mini-htc-cedar-and-more/comment-page-1/#comment-394156