GSM Pre to launch on O2 in UK

We heard earlier this morning that the GSM Pre was set for a UK launch, and now it sounds like things are coming together: The Guardian says the Palm's baby will launch on O2. That makes perfect sense, O2 owner Telefonica reportedly secured broad global rights to the Pre back in March. Of course, this is all yet to be official, but with actual GSM handsets floating around out there and an announcement expected next week, we're guessing we don't have too much longer to wait.

[Bob @ Jul 1st 2009 4:03PM]

I wonder if it will have US 3g bands in it.

[Patrick @ Jul 1st 2009 4:02PM]

anyone know if it supports us 3g?

[pavlindrom @ Jul 1st 2009 4:29PM]

I guess not. Try asking this after it gets released. A while after. Like two weeks or maybe even a month after it's released. Until then, how could anyone know?

[nukee @ Jul 1st 2009 4:35PM]

I'm pretty sure O2 uses the 2100 MHz band. Which if it does, then it might work with T-Mobile.

[Totalfixation @ Jul 1st 2009 5:00PM]

UK uses 1900/2100, while Att uses 850/1900 and T-mobile is 1700/2100. You have a better chance of them supporting 850/1900 than 1700/2100.

[Gibson @ Jul 1st 2009 5:00PM]

HUGE win for Palm, and why wouldn't it be 3G? I'm not familiar with O2, other than the fact it's the largest carrier in the UK.

[mt @ Jul 1st 2009 5:44PM]

tmobile USA uses 1700 mhz for their 3g, only. AT&T uses 850/1900mhz for 3g in the US. o2 uses 2100mhz for 3g. The Euro spec Pre will probably have quad band gsm 850/900/1800/1900 + 2100mhz for foreign spec 3G, but more than likely, not US 3G frequencies.

[Totalfixation @ Jul 1st 2009 7:00PM]

To be more specific.
UMTS / HSDPA devices operate in UMTS frequency bands 850/1900/2100 or 850/1700/2100 MHz:

* 2100 (downlink) / 1900 (uplink) for Europe and Asia (usually referred simply as W-CDMA 2100)
* 1900 / 850 (independently, for both the uplink and downlink) for America (e.g. AT&T)
* 2100 (downlink) / 1700 (uplink) for America (e.g. T-Mobile)
* 850 for Australia (Telstra NextG)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triband_(telephone)

[ITRanger @ Jul 2nd 2009 7:15AM]

@Gibson
That would be Vodafone or the new combined Vodafone/T-Mobile UK if that ever gets a green light from recent news.

[D @ Jul 1st 2009 4:02PM]

cool. now put it on Verizon

[Chad @ Jul 1st 2009 4:34PM]

a GSM Pre wouldn't work on Verizon silly!

[D @ Jul 1st 2009 4:53PM]

very true chad. should of watched my words- just the device in general is wanted, not the GSM version.

By the way, how is to be a Verizon spokesmen now*
:)

*Reference to Alltel buyout

[Imran @ Jul 1st 2009 4:03PM]

So they'll have the iPhone AND the Pre, not bad

[naz @ Jul 1st 2009 4:25PM]

now they just need a android phone

[KarlW @ Jul 1st 2009 4:32PM]

Seriously. Big coup for them. If they have an upgrade offer for iPhone 3G owners, I may be tempted...

[Nay @ Jul 1st 2009 6:41PM]

Yeah, actually o2 is getting an Android device soon. The Samsung i7500 - I believe they're calling it the galaxy now? Also, I'm pretty sure that o2 will also be doing the LG KS360 with android, though i'm not 100% on that.

[fanman @ Jul 2nd 2009 5:04AM]

This is very bad. Less competition means that both of the phones will stay at £1000 and then £100000000000000 a moth for the rest of your life.

[oliver hart @ Jul 1st 2009 4:06PM]

bitchin

[Information Central @ Jul 1st 2009 11:01PM]

Especially with the pointlessly puny keyboard: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3390/3184021446_2fd787842c_o.png

[qwack @ Jul 1st 2009 4:07PM]

Now it will become a failure in more than one country.

[Cheddar @ Jul 1st 2009 4:10PM]

LOL...

[pavlindrom @ Jul 1st 2009 4:11PM]

iDiots! Why aren't you rejoicing you got competition? Make your iDevice better anyway, according to past records.

[periks19 @ Jul 1st 2009 4:14PM]

failure 300,000 units in the US without any heavy advertising?? pretty much a phone that regular people haven't heard of selling out in every sprint store you go with waiting list of about a month i guess thats failure for you.

[qwack @ Jul 1st 2009 4:15PM]

Sorry couldnt resist.

Interesting to see how it works out with the iPhone and Pre on the same network, that IS competition.

[pavlindrom @ Jul 1st 2009 4:18PM]

No problem. I wanted to use "iDiots" once (and this was pretty good I think), so don't take it personal. Please accept my own apologies.

[Erik @ Jul 1st 2009 4:22PM]

lol!

[Erik @ Jul 1st 2009 4:23PM]

Lets just hope they saw the horrible reviews.

[eidolon @ Jul 1st 2009 4:07PM]

Am I missing something? I don't see anywhere in the article that says it's launching next week. Only that they will announce the partnership next week.

[eidolon @ Jul 1st 2009 4:10PM]

Ah I see title fixed...

[aniki @ Jul 1st 2009 4:10PM]

Erm, might want to change that headline before UK Pre fans get over-excited. The announcement is next week, not the launch...

[sockatume @ Jul 1st 2009 4:10PM]

How can you post this and not comment on the fact that O2 also have the iPhone! They must be cackling with glee at their smartphone exclusivity.

[wrs589 @ Jul 1st 2009 5:32PM]

I hope they don't. I'd consider buying an iPhone if it wasn't for the 3G coverage of o2, by far the worst in the country. All other networks have HSDPA where I live but o2 is still on EDGE for miles around.

[Information Central @ Jul 1st 2009 5:43PM]

"if it wasn't for the 3G coverage of o2"

if it WEREN'T for the 3G coverage...

[Nay @ Jul 1st 2009 6:37PM]

Yeah, not great 3G coverage, but decent. Besides, o2 is going into network sharing with voda, and although we don't have the best HSDPA coverage, we have the most reliable coverage otherwise.

[mko @ Jul 1st 2009 4:13PM]

Sigh.. what about countries where operators don't do contracts?
This is why Nokia will be GSM leader for a long time.

[Ellis D. @ Jul 1st 2009 4:13PM]

That's good news...but where's my GSM_unlocked Pre?

[Verythrax @ Jul 1st 2009 4:15PM]

You UK guys here, does O2 lock the hell of it, or I can import it with no worries?

Pre hackers, by rooting the phone and such, could I use another sim card on it?

[naz @ Jul 1st 2009 4:23PM]

from my experiance it's quite easy to unlock a 02 phone, alot of people do it.

[iLoveApple @ Jul 1st 2009 4:30PM]

Unlocking doesn't really depend on the network, it depends on the phone. Most of O2's contract phones come unlocked.

[Di3 @ Jul 1st 2009 4:30PM]

Theres no GSM version as of now, so I dont think there is an unlock RIGHT when you buy it. But if 02 gets it, it'll probably be released in France, Belgium (unlocked! Required by law =)), HOlland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany and the rest of europe pretty soon, don't think it's worth the import price

[redcard @ Jul 1st 2009 4:35PM]

You can import it with absolutely no worries at all. That I can personally guarantee

[Verythrax @ Jul 1st 2009 4:38PM]

Im planning to use it in Brazil, so importing is ALWAYS worthy ;)

I hope they follow the trend and release it unlocked. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

[Ernesttechuser @ Jul 1st 2009 4:42PM]

O2 firmware is easy to replace in most phones.

Vodafone, T-Mobile and Orange are a bit more difficult.

[Adam Zey @ Jul 1st 2009 4:23PM]

And once again, Canada gets the shaft. Despite the fact that the Pre that we'll eventually get in Canada on Bell is the same phone as the US (literally, for the iPhone 2G people just unlocked the US one and used it here), the UK is going to get a *new* version of the phone first.

This is why telephone exclusivity deals suck.

[Michael @ Jul 1st 2009 4:27PM]

Ok, Telefonica / O2 is a carrier in a lot of European countries....Does the UK annoucement mean that we can expect this phone in the near future also in other European countries? September / Christmas is definitely too late for the launch of the Pre, Palm would loose a lot of potentially customers in most European markets....

[redcard @ Jul 1st 2009 4:37PM]

The UK announcement means it will launch in France 13 days later, and in Italy 10 days after that. I know that cos I have inside knowledge.

Is that the answer you were looking for?

[AmaaR @ Jul 1st 2009 4:28PM]

How is O2 as a carrier compared to let say Orange?

[redcard @ Jul 1st 2009 4:35PM]

Orange are rubbish and o2 are excellent. I came to that conclusion after extensive and exhaustive analysis. I can show the the spreadsheets if you want

[marty k. @ Jul 1st 2009 4:54PM]

O2 is a bit better than Orange but still sucks pretty much compared to T-Mobile which I find the best carrier in the UK. Too bad they've got shitty phones ;(

[David @ Jul 1st 2009 5:18PM]

O2 have the least 3G masts in the UK