Palm Pre to run $549 off-contract

We'd ventured a guess that the Pre would run close to $500 off-contract, and it looks like we were in the ballpark -- Sprint customer service is apparently telling people that Palm's first WebOS device will run $549 without a two-year commitment. That's just off-contract, not unlocked, mind you, so don't get any ideas about throwing this thing on Verizon. We're guessing most people will sign the papers on June 6th and pay $199 after rebate, so don't get too worked up -- just know that living a life free of attachment and responsibility will cost you $549 upfront.

[Thanks, Dustin]

[Eggo Posted May 19th 2009 4:57PM]

Now the big deal in this is what's the lowest pricing for the data plan for the unsubsidized phone?

IE: That's what makes my $350 Nokia substantially cheaper than a $200 iPhone 3G.

[Verythrax Posted May 19th 2009 5:00PM]

Looks like a reasonable price range for non-contract, IMO. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[Verythrax Posted May 19th 2009 5:01PM]

My post wasn't supposed to be a reply anyone, my bad...

[OneLove Posted May 19th 2009 5:10PM]

LIVE FREE OR DIE!

[rbz Posted May 19th 2009 5:18PM]

Just talked to a sales rep earlier this morning, lowest plan is $69.99 for 450 mins, and sprints unlimited data. nights and weekends from 7p to 7a.

450 mins $69.99
900 mins $89.99
all unlim $99.99

[imayam Posted May 19th 2009 5:19PM]

facepalm

(sorry, had to :) )

[Trial Posted May 19th 2009 5:24PM]

@ImaYam.

No. You didn't. Go away.

[(Unverified) Posted May 19th 2009 4:57PM]

I had swine flu for breakfast

[jedil1c1ous Posted May 19th 2009 5:14PM]

The Pre can fix that.

[mrspiteri Posted May 20th 2009 4:44AM]

There's an app for that.

[CHESTERCITY Posted May 19th 2009 4:59PM]

Had to read that a good few times to distinguish between $49 and 549

[(Unverified) Posted May 19th 2009 8:18PM]

me too

[(Unverified) Posted May 20th 2009 9:33AM]

Chester City?

[CHESTERCITY Posted May 20th 2009 9:36AM]

Chester City indeed :)

[britboyj27 Posted May 19th 2009 5:01PM]

Wow so it's $50 cheaper than an un-contracted iPhone 3G...

I thought this thing was just going to pwn the iPhone utterly in all aspects?

I'm actually excited to play with one, competition is good and it'll hopefully up Apple and Blackberry's game, but I feel like we've been hyped just as much as Apple does.

[aldo Posted May 19th 2009 6:26PM]

You do realize that the iPhone has been out for almost two years right?

1. http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/21/t-mobile-responds-to-vodafone-iphone-injunction/ - November 2007 - Unlocked iPhone from Europe 999 Euros. Quite a bit more than $550.
2. http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/apple-now-selling-iphone-3g-unlocked-in-hong-kong/ - September 2008 - As Apple does not sell the iPhone in the U.S. unlocked, here is your next option to get one officially from Apple. $694/$797. Still quite a bit more than $550.

The Pre is $550, at LAUNCH, and it can only go down from here. Let me know if the iPhone hits $500 unlocked next year, when the Pre will most likely be under $450.

[newone Posted May 20th 2009 6:43AM]

That uncontracted iPhone price isnt unlocked ->a unlocked costs a bit more, 749€ from orange france for example.

[raginghamster Posted May 19th 2009 5:01PM]

like buying an engagement ring

[Anders Posted May 19th 2009 5:13PM]

You sir, are a cheap som-ma-a bitch if you get your girl a toy of an engagement ring like that.

[raginghamster Posted May 19th 2009 5:21PM]

I meant buying an off-contract phone is like buying an engagement ring-- no commitments LOL

[AM ERROR Posted May 19th 2009 5:50PM]

Well if you end up marrying just to save on taxes and car insurance... aslo for convenient sex... Why bother get the skank an expensive ring?

[Piranha Posted May 19th 2009 8:32PM]

I read that as "Engadget ring"... And thought that would be really weird.

[busbeepbeep Posted May 19th 2009 5:04PM]

I'd sign a 5 year contract if they would let me get the Pre and keep my $30 SERO plan.

[scrcmedic Posted May 19th 2009 5:14PM]

Me too! I'll sign a 10 year contract if I can just keep my SERO!

[(Unverified) Posted May 19th 2009 5:29PM]

No kidding! I'll be off-contract soon since you can get an HTC Touch pro on eBay for $340 and an upgrade would run me $300 after a $100 MIR...not like I'm going to leave Sprint but I'd readily sign a Canada-sized contract (3 years FTL) to use the Pre on SERO.

[martymankins Posted May 19th 2009 5:59PM]

I'm not on SERO, but I do have a 6 year old plan that I'd like to keep and be able to be a Pre user. Guess I may have to shell out $550 if I want to do that, unless the Pre really is tied to only newer plans. That would be sad if that were the case.

[Joshs Red Pants Posted May 19th 2009 5:04PM]

Bah. Who cares. I'm much more interested in Schmidt's following question!

[(Unverified) Posted May 19th 2009 5:04PM]

iPhone 3G up for sale...

[loocas Posted May 19th 2009 5:35PM]

And yet, nobody wants it...

[Pencreus Posted May 19th 2009 6:11PM]

LOL. No, it will make a nice iPod Touch

[(Unverified) Posted May 20th 2009 2:19AM]

The more I hear about this phone the less I care.

[javi413 Posted May 19th 2009 5:05PM]

Palm should've made the pre off contract be less than $400, would sell more

[bdav Posted May 19th 2009 5:13PM]

By Jove he's right...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demand_curve

[pukerocket Posted May 19th 2009 5:25PM]

Good point. Also, if they sold it at $700 they would sell less

[sinai Posted May 19th 2009 6:38PM]

and if they were $0, they wouldn't sell any!

[(Unverified) Posted May 19th 2009 7:09PM]

i enjoyed this little lesson in economics.

[(Unverified) Posted May 20th 2009 1:10AM]

I also enjoyed this little lesson in engadget sarcasm =]

[cinematech Posted May 20th 2009 11:34AM]

they did. You buy it, under contract, for $199. You then go to Sprint and say, "hello Mr. Sprint, I would Like to cancel my contract." After a few questions and attempts at getting you to change your mind, they will reply, "your contract is canceled, that will be $175."

You just bought the Pre for less than $400.

[vinayaravind Posted May 21st 2009 5:40AM]

I live in India and I don't know how this whole "contract" system in the US functions. In India almost all phones are unlocked (except...hold your breath....the iphone). So are they actually that stupid? do they terminate your contract for 175 USD? then what happens? how much more would it cost you to have it unlocked?

[(Unverified) Posted May 19th 2009 5:05PM]

What's up with that may 6th in there? Was that the original release date?

[(Unverified) Posted May 19th 2009 5:11PM]

It's a typo -- I have the rest of the conversation and Sprint responds that the Pre will be available in stores and on Sprint.com June 6.

[CJ Posted May 20th 2009 11:31AM]

Stop lying, Nilay!

We all know it came out on the 6th, but you and your conspiracy of Engadget bloggers are hiding them for a month so you can buy them all before anyone else!

... I'm ON to yooooou....

[(Unverified) Posted May 19th 2009 5:05PM]

It's cheaper to buy it on contract and cancel later if needed. People who insist on getting a PDA or anything in that range without a contract seem to miss this most of the time.

[(Unverified) Posted May 19th 2009 5:07PM]

That's less than I thought... considering the iPhone went for $700 off contract.
But it's pointless to talk about an off contract Pre when there is no sign of a GSM version, yet.

[krische Posted May 19th 2009 7:01PM]

There is going to be a GSM version, Palm just doesn't want to talk about it right now because they want all attention on this launch. Trust me, a few months after launch, we'll hear about the GSM version and maybe even other WebOS phones.

[Rollins Posted May 19th 2009 5:08PM]

Is there any particular reason why one wouldn't buy it on contract and then pay the $175 cancellation fee? Seems like it would be cheaper, even with an activation fee. Or is there something in the contract that prevents you from doing so?

[(Unverified) Posted May 19th 2009 5:19PM]

you have to have service for before you can get your $100 mail in rebate. it takes 10-14 weeks to get it and you have to have service when they process your check so that puts you just a little above off contract price.

[Rollins Posted May 19th 2009 5:24PM]

But $300 + $175 = $475, which is still less than $549, right?

And in the case of the iPhone, $475 is less than $600.

I have to be missing something (other than the hassle).

[(Unverified) Posted May 19th 2009 7:13PM]

What you're missing is they can take back the phone if you cancel too soon.

[Rollins Posted May 19th 2009 7:59PM]

That would do it. I'll have to read over the contract terms more carefully.

For the record, I haven't done this and don't plan to in the future, but I always wondered how a carrier could charge more than $175 over the subsidized price.