Palm Pixi clears FCC with Verizon frequencies and WiFi in tow

If you were looking for just one more reason to ditch Sprint then this could be it. A CDMA-flavored Palm Pixi just cleared the FCC -- yes, another one -- and we can say with confidence it's not coming to Sprint this time around. Better yet, Palm's model P121EWW matches up with that P121 code we saw leaked a while back for Big Red (Sprint's model is P120EWW), and this sucker got tested for 802.11b/g WiFi. Looks like that Sprint ad touting the Pixi's non-existent WiFi was more than just wishful thinking. With webOS-powered Palm gear already confirmed on Verizon for "early next year," are you really going to make the jump to a WiFi-less Pixi on Sprint knowing what's on the way? And more importantly, can we expect another terrifying series of ads targeting Sprint this time instead of AT&T?

[r34p3r Posted Dec 13th 2009 3:44PM]

@(Unverified)

Well for one, I would certainly hope that a phone that runs an operating system called "WEB"OS has a decent WEB browser...

[r34p3r Posted Dec 13th 2009 3:23PM]

I bet the author couldn't wait to get his hatred of Sprint out of his system and into this article...

[artshark Posted Dec 13th 2009 3:23PM]

whens the launch date? no joke ill return my droid

[jamiesbeck Posted Dec 13th 2009 3:39PM]

yeah, i want to move to Verizon to switch to a crap phone and pay TWICE as much per month. this phone has a battery life of 10 hours with lite use and NO missed call notification. trust me, you will miss your notification.

[PattyXXX Posted Dec 13th 2009 4:02PM]

@jamiesbeck
spot on brother. who's the target demographic for this phone? I would've been excited by this phone like 5 yrs ago. Palm has all that talent and produce this? Come on.

[JoeyHoey Posted Dec 13th 2009 10:02PM]

@jamiesbeck There are notifications. When I miss a call, I know I missed a call. What are you talking about?

[PattyXXX Posted Dec 13th 2009 4:07PM]

Engadget please post my tip. I want to keyboard smack all these Verizon fanboys real bad! Let the truth be told.

[Ouroboros Posted Dec 13th 2009 4:16PM]

I'm first time commenter, frequent visitor.

This great news. I would drop my blackberry pearl for pixie anyday. They have the same form factor, except pixie is a lot thinner than pearl. i loath pearl's keyboard and suretype and multi-tap.

[mrkalel Posted Dec 13th 2009 4:31PM]

Well I love Sprint, but I love Palm more...I just want them to pull it out, since they do have 3 great products going for them, webOS, Pre & Pixi... so the more carriers... the merrier!!!

[vdrumpro Posted Dec 13th 2009 4:57PM]

I wonder if they bothered to add a camcorder function for the vzw firmware? I think the pixi is the only thing out without a camcorder function.. I went to buy one, ended up with the HTC hero... meh to either one really.. What I'd really love.. a cheap little flip phone that could broadcast wifi to my ipod.. a mi-fi you can use as a phone.. that'd be killer..

[DaveBach Posted Dec 14th 2009 4:37AM]

@vdrumpro

What you should have gone with is the Windows Mobile based HTC Touch Pro2 and then you'd be able to serve up WiFi to that iPod Touch and have a pretty sweet phone at the same time.

[cheech4 Posted Dec 13th 2009 5:14PM]

30$ extra for data compared to sprint just to have a WIFI pixi, i dont think so. to top that verizons new 350$ ETF for a Pixi!!!! that's a double wammi. i rather stick with Sprint. the new Tour and Curve 2 are coming soon and will have WIFI, i will give my hard earned money to Sprint.

[Atara9 Posted Dec 13th 2009 5:31PM]

Does this mean we're not getting the Pre?
Drat.

[nelly36 Posted Dec 13th 2009 8:13PM]

This should turn into a poll. What is more important? WiFi or Save money?
Side note: Like I said before, engadget should change their wed address to: verizon.com/engadget

[Naris Posted Dec 13th 2009 8:22PM]

Anyone else figure that this means Verizon will get only the Pixi and not the Pre? Maybe the addition of WiFi is meant to merge the two devices together for Verizon.

[qwertybirdy Posted Dec 13th 2009 10:09PM]

If Verizon's network is so good why do you need wifi?

[xjman349 Posted Dec 14th 2009 4:37AM]

I love how everyone bitches about Verizon's prices. If you do the research the average user pays more on Sprint, and AT&T than Verizon.

[DaveBach Posted Dec 14th 2009 4:41AM]

@xjman349

I smell a liar and horse crap...or else there's about 50 million dumb phones on basic Verizon plans working hard to bring that average down.

[r34p3r Posted Dec 14th 2009 5:32AM]

@xjman349

The fuck are you talking about? After taxes and local state fees, I pay about 85 dollars a month. My friend, who was on the EXACT SAME (read: comparable unlimited data plan) Verizon plan, paid over 100 bucks a month. You damn well know that Verizon charges more, and any spin or made-up average isn't going to change that fact.

[cheech4 Posted Dec 14th 2009 12:24PM]

@xjman349

when comparing similar plans that require data. blackberries need a data plan the pixi will need a data plan.. you will PAY on AVERAGE 30 dollars more with verizon than you do with sprint. go check for your self, go to sprint and check out there simply everything 450 plan it costs 69.99 now go to verizon and get a plan similar to it, unlimited text, unlimited data, gps, tv. now you will see what i mean when i say 30 dollars extra for wifi pixi i dont think so.

[PTMcH Posted Dec 15th 2009 6:28PM]

@xjman349

I'll be the first to admit that Verizon has better coverage then Sprint or AT&T around my house and work. With Sprint, since we are piggyback off Verizon tower, cover is just about equally good. I've been considering switch over to Verizon for couple years now, but everytime when I try to price out to switch over, Verizon always cost about $20 to $30 dollars more per month. Currently I have two lines unlimited data shared 1500 minutes with international calling in my plan. Comparable plan with Verizon with GPS will cost me about $35 more per month in addition to higher pre minute international call charges. If all you do is call US domestic, I think Verizon is comparable. Once you add data into the picture, Verizon is always more expensive. See for yourself.