Palm Pre official on O2 and Movistar in Europe, launch "in time for holidays"

By Thomas Ricker

posted July 7th 2009 4:01AM

Breaking News

It's official, Palm just kicked out a press release saying that the UK, Ireland, and Germany will have access to the Palm Pre exclusively on O2 while Spain's Pre will be offered exclusively on Movistar -- so it's all Telefonica, all the time. Unfortunately, launch timing was only narrowed down to "in time for the holidays" which is just another way of repeating Palm's European-launch mantra of before the end of the year. Palm also doesn't provide any prices and chose not to list the radio frequencies for the HSDPA/UMTS with EDGE/GSM version of the Pre. See the 1,260 word press release posted after the break that says almost nothing.

Update: Seems as if O2 Germany has word that it'll be launching the GSM Pre in October.

Update 2: Hmm, seems as if O2 Germany has swapped out banners to show "Fall" availability. Make up your mind, won't you?

PRESS RELEASE: Palm Pre to Launch in Europe with O2 and Movistar
Palm webOS Phone to Arrive in UK, Ireland, Germany and Spain on Local Telefonica Networks

WINDSOR, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 07, 2009--
Palm, Inc. (Nasdaq:PALM) today announced that the Palm(R) Pre(TM) phone is scheduled to be available initially in the UK, Ireland and Germany exclusively on the O2 network, and in Spain exclusively on the Movistar network, in time for the holidays. Palm Pre, the first phone based on the new Palm webOS(TM) mobile platform, brings your information from the many places it resides -- on your phone, at work or on the web -- into one simple, integrated view.(1)

"Europe continues to be an important region for Palm, and we're proud to work with O2 and Movistar to spread the excitement Palm Pre has already ignited in North America," said Jon Rubinstein, Palm chairman and chief executive officer. "Since we showed Palm Pre at Mobile World Congress in February, there's been a great deal of anticipation for an announcement about European availability, and that day is here."

"We are fast becoming the home of the smartphone with the addition of the hotly-anticipated Palm Pre to our already extensive portfolio," said Matthew Key, chairman and chief executive officer, Telefonica Europe. "Our customers will be the first outside of North America to experience one of the most successful mobile devices of the year."

In its first weekend of availability in the United States, Palm Pre broke Sprint's previous first-weekend sales records. Palm Pre also is scheduled to debut in Canada with Bell Mobility in the second half of 2009.

Palm Pre introduces a breakthrough user interface and hardware design that makes it one of the most integrated and user-friendly mobile phones on the market. Featuring a smooth, elegantly rounded ergonomic design and a physical keyboard that slides out only when needed, Palm Pre is engineered to feel natural in your hand and comfortably small in your pocket. When closed, Palm Pre is ideal for phone calls, web browsing, music, photos and videos; when open, Palm Pre is optimized for email and text messaging. It provides an exceptional experience for phone calls, whether held to your ear, over speakerphone or via Bluetooth.

With its curved slider and gesture-controlled touch interface, Palm Pre fuses exquisite design with the revolutionary webOS software for fast access to content on the device or web. Invented exclusively for mobile use, webOS offers an instinctive user experience that seems to anticipate your needs.

Key Features and Benefits of Palm webOS

Palm Synergy(TM), a key feature of the new webOS, brings your information from all the places it resides into one logical view. You don't have to worry about tracking multiple calendars, contacts and messaging applications -- Synergy seems to think ahead to bring you a more comprehensive and truly representative view of your life.

-- Linked contacts -- With Synergy, you have a single view that links your
contacts from a variety of sources, so accessing them is easier than
ever. For example, if you have the same contact listed in your
Outlook(2), Google and Facebook accounts, Synergy recognizes that
they're the same person and links the information, presenting it to you
as one listing.

-- Layered calendars -- Your calendars can be seen on their own or layered
together in a single view, combining work, family, friends, sports teams
or other interests. You can toggle to look at one calendar at a time, or
see them all at a glance.

-- Combined messaging -- Synergy lets you see all your conversations with
the same person in a chat-style view, even if it started in IM and you
want to reply with text messaging. You can also see who's active in a
buddy list right from contacts or email, and start a new conversation
with just one touch.
By smartly integrating your information, webOS seems to think ahead for you to keep you on top of the things that happen in your life, but that's just the first step. The platform's unique interface brings your information to you with the ease that only Palm can offer.

-- Run multiple applications at the same time -- Palm's revolutionary webOS
lets you manage multiple activities more effectively than any other
mobile platform today. It lets you keep multiple activities open and
move easily between them like flipping through a deck of cards. You can
rearrange items simply by dragging them; when you are done with
something, just throw it away by flicking it off the top of the
screen.(3)

-- Information at your fingertips -- Finding what you need is easy with
universal search -- as you type what you're looking for, webOS narrows
your search and offers results from both your device and the web.(4)

-- Intuitive and unobtrusive notifications -- When important things come up
or new updates arrive, you'll receive notifications with a diplomacy
that's a radical departure from other mobile platforms. For example, if
you receive a text message or email, a scrolling notifications bar at
the bottom of your screen lets you address it right away or leave until
later. webOS alerts are one step ahead, ensuring that you never miss a
thing, but never lose your place or train of thought.
Palm Pre Specifications

-- HSDPA/UMTS with EDGE/GSM

-- Integrated GPS(5)

-- Large 3.1-inch touch screen with a vibrant 24-bit color 320x480
resolution HVGA display

-- Gesture area, which enables simple, intuitive gestures for navigation

-- Slide-out keyboard (QWERTY in UK, Ireland and Spain, QWERTZ in Germany)

-- Email, including support for corporate servers with Microsoft Exchange(2)
as well as personal email support (POP3, IMAP)

-- Robust messaging support (IM, SMS and MMS capabilities) (3)

-- High-performance, desktop-class web browser

-- Great multimedia experience and performance (pictures, video playback,
music), featuring a 3-megapixel camera with LED flash and extended depth
of field, and a standard 3.5mm headset jack

-- Bluetooth(R) 2.1 + EDR with A2DP stereo Bluetooth support

-- 8GB internal memory (7GB user available)(6)

-- USB mass storage mode

-- MicroUSB connector with USB 2.0 Hi-Speed

-- Proximity sensor, which automatically disables the touch screen and
turns off the display whenever you put the phone up to your ear

-- Light sensor, which dims the display if the ambient light is dark, such
as at night or in a movie theater, to reduce power usage

-- Accelerometer, which automatically orients web pages and photos to your
perspective

-- Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g(7)

-- Ringer switch, which easily silences the device with one touch

-- Removable, rechargeable battery

-- Dimensions: 59.57mm (W) x 100.53mm (L, closed) x 16.95mm (D)

-- Weight: 135 grams
An array of compelling accessories also will be available for Palm Pre, including the first inductive charging solution for phones (sold separately). Simply set Palm Pre down on top of the elegantly designed Palm Touchstone(TM) charging dock without worrying about connection, orientation or fit. Palm Pre is active while charging, so you can access the touch screen, watch movies or video, or use the speakerphone.

Availability and Pricing

Palm Pre is scheduled to be available initially in the UK, Ireland and Germany exclusively on the O2 network, and in Spain exclusively on the Movistar network, in time for the holidays. Pricing for the phone has not yet been determined.

Customers who would like to register to receive additional information about Palm Pre and be notified when it's available can register at:

-- UK and Ireland: http://www.palm.com/uk-pre-notify

-- Germany: http://www.palm.com/de-pre-notify

-- Spain: http://www.palm.com/es-pre-notify