FCC paper trail suggests AT&T getting Pre in May?

Palm still won't really fess up to it, but AT&T was more than happy to drop the bomb back at CES that it's picking up webOS for the first time in 2010 -- and a little creative connecting-of-the-dots gives us some idea of when we might see the gear hit the streets. The company's Pre with North American 3G -- model number P100UNA -- is already in use by Telcel in Mexico, but confidentiality in its US FCC filing doesn't expire until mid-May. Why does that matter? Historically, Palm's US releases have come very close to their FCC confidentiality lifts, meaning that we could see this thing on AT&T by the time Summer rolls around. Of course, in light of the Pre Plus, it'd be pretty sweet if AT&T just moved on to the next big thing in Palm's pipeline, but we certainly wouldn't put it past 'em to launch outdated equipment.

[silkyjohnson Posted Feb 10th 2010 7:43PM]

WebOS is a fine OS. It just needs to be dropped into a conventional touch screen phone. The reason I didn't get the Pre on Verizon is because of it's form factor. I got the Pixi, and even though it's sexy as f**k, it's just too small (and lacks the specs) to be taken as a serious touchscreen phone. Maybe it's just me but I'm not a big fan of the slideout keyboard on the Pre. I would much prefer an iPhone-sized webOS phone with a touchscreen keyboard. That would be the bee's knees!

[scottadusa Posted Feb 10th 2010 7:50PM]

Quit ripping on att. It is #2 carrier in the usa. and my experience has been fine with them. People tell me my voice is clearer on att then on verizon. and even while ringing you get crackles and sounds on verizon.

Att is a good network, Plus i like to talk and surf at same time.

[Dunch Posted Feb 10th 2010 8:09PM]

@scottadusa

Yeah AT&T's fine. In Dallas there's nothing wrong with it. People are too quick to blame them

[Acook44 Posted Feb 10th 2010 8:18PM]

@Dunch
same here in Cincinnati awesome coverage 3G is great too

[blackmagic01 Posted Feb 10th 2010 7:55PM]

@krische No not exactly. I have a pre. it's a good phone. But they are NOT following Android. Android is intended to be licensed which is why it's on a bunch of carriers and have a bunch of phones. WebOS is not intended to be licensed which means Palm has to fund all the manufacturing, R&D, customer service etc along with making the software. Google only has to make the software. Google makes it money from ad revenue anyways so it's only trying to get more people using google cloud services. Android is just a vehicle. That's why they give it away free. Palm can't do that, as the phone is their revenue stream. And they don't want to cut into that by licensing it. Now whether that makes business senses the reality is they are following Apple which is to control the hardware and the software while for Google, Android is about just making software and letting others make hardware. Google is copying Microsoft. Palm is copying Apple. Not a surprise since their CEO is a former Apple Exect.

[Dunch Posted Feb 10th 2010 8:05PM]

I can't wait for my Pre :-) hopefully it'll have the same specs as the Pre Plus, but it won't be the end of the world if it doesn't

[MBN Posted Feb 10th 2010 9:02PM]

AWS GSM T-Mobile 3G version please? I wonder if T-Mobile and Palm will ever kiss and make up.

I also wonder if Palm will sell unlocked devices like they used to.

[Chi Posted Feb 10th 2010 11:02PM]

Let the guessing games being on the name of the Palm units coming to AT&T. I'm sure it'll be the Pre 2 or whatever it'll be called. When that releases, I'm sure Android will then have 1.5, 1.6. 1.8. 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5. 2.6 and 3.0 spread out through 50 phones like it's butter. They seriously need to fix that.

[Connors Daddy Posted Feb 11th 2010 1:27AM]

@Chi
I agree with that. You know what you are getting when it comes to Palms WebOS, or even Apples OS. There are a lot of devices out there running Android OS, and hardly any of them lend the same user experience from one device to the next. Is it by design or an inherent flaw in Googles development processes. The lack of consistency when it comes to what version Android OS comes out on new devices is staggering, and keeps me away from it. Though I may have to admit that the Nexus One might (and I mean might)be the most polished Android OS out there right now. Needless to say, things are really getting interesting on the new hardware software front which is why people like us are forever on these sites looking out for the next "hype".

[pika2000 Posted Feb 11th 2010 2:21AM]

You know what, can Palm just freakin sell HSDPA Pre themselves, unlocked?

[mark838 Posted Feb 11th 2010 2:23AM]

i've waiting for so long ... i need real keys, i can live without apps but am stuck with ATT because there is no other provider with good coverage in my area :-(