There will be a GSM-friendly 3G Palm Pre
by Chris Ziegler 
posted Jan 8th 2009 at 4:47PM
Update: We've just seen a copy of the Pre's press release, and sadly, the 3G GSM version is listed as being intended for "other regions" -- in other words, places not served by Sprint. The good news, we guess, is that we've also confirmed that it's HSDPA, so at least it'll be hauling ass.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
higapleez @ Jan 8th 2009 5:41PM
seriously... who thinks that a vertical slide-down keyboard is a good idea? Why do companies still design this garbage?
vaxick @ Jan 8th 2009 6:03PM
Uhhh.....a ton of people love keyboards like that. Myself included.
Christian @ Jan 9th 2009 1:12AM
the best solution for one-handed operation
SPOKE @ Jan 9th 2009 8:04AM
You are showing your age. Born when cable internet was the norm, All mp3 players were called ipods and cellpohnes were computers.
Grow up. But pay attention to history.
Patrick Horne @ Jan 8th 2009 6:57PM
Holy Sweet Jesus!!! Palm, you have blown me away this time. I expected a Powerpoint bullet list of coming vaporware with a 2.5mm audio jack. This platform and funtionality looks phenominal. Get that GSM baby over to AT&T and I'll bring those Federal Reserve notes.
Not Palm OS legacy, but this will generate serious buzz on its on. Integration looks great.
carcomptoy @ Jan 8th 2009 6:02PM
I think that'll actually make for better dimensions. It seems to be about the same proportions as the BB Curve, which is a very good standard to go by. I don't find the HTC keyboards very comfortable to type actually.
Besides, the biggest mistake is hardly the vertical slide-down keyboard. It's the Sprint exclusivity.
gaffinent @ Jan 10th 2009 4:36AM
Good call Palm.. They know what they are doing.. They are saving their number one phone for their number one carrier.. They can get a better deal on the contract and help out the carrier that they have a better relationship with.. Why do you think sprint is gettin a special cdma treo pro made before At&t can even get the gsm one sent out... It shouldnt be hard to convince people to switch over either.. You get a better phone, better call quality, better coverage, better features, better 3g, better prices... I guess thats what you would call a "win win" or maybe a "win win win win win win" lol
Guess that multi milli cash infusion from Palms angel investors was well spent...
Cary @ Jan 8th 2009 9:30PM
Look Dude,
Not EVERYONE is on Sprint. I used to be but left.
Why? Because of the lock in with their use in the USA ONLY.
Sure USA wise they have very good coverage. But they do not allow WORLD WIDE DATA or Anything for that matters.
They have really Crappy agreements with the rest of the World.
The Orient for example.
The ONLY Way to get Good Coverage World Wide TODAY is 3G GSM and the Phone that is for Other Regions....
That is why this deal Sucks.
Sure you have a point this will definitely get the biggest bang for the buck. But the Exculsivity and the Bit to LOCK people to a particular Carrier BS....
People should have the ability to choose the hardware they wish to use and use it on what ever suppliers support that hardware and be able to move from one supplier to another with out penalty or concern that the phone will not work when they change or having to change phones when they get tired of the policies that do not make sense with the old carrier they are leaving.
Freedom to Choose.
Sure you have to make a choice now to go with Sprint or Wait.
I for one will WAIT. I look forward to the Unlocked 3G GSM version and the features then.
For now I will customize my Treo 680 load and drop all the apps I do not use and add in the apps that I do and go on with life while Palm perfects this nice little device.
Bravo Palm for NOT Dropping the Ball here.
Patrick Horne @ Jan 9th 2009 1:39PM
Ditto Cary. Right down to the tired, torn, and tattered Treo 680.
James @ Jan 8th 2009 6:39PM
Just because it's exclusive to Sprint, doesn't really indicate a "mistake" on a large scale. You can still get it unlocked for Verizon, without a doubt and use it with their network.
--James
Boris @ Jan 9th 2009 2:45PM
And how are you going to register it on Verizon considering they know it's a Sprint phone with Sprint HEX & ESN numbers?
Josta @ Jan 8th 2009 9:16PM
Sprint...Larger, Faster 3G network, better reception, better call quality, better customer service, better coverage, better phones, better prices...oh and the PALM PRE!!!
AT&T...ummmmm....ummmmmm....ummmmmmm
damiaking @ Jan 8th 2009 7:57PM
lol i with u brother i hate all those people bitchin just because is a sprint exclusive they dont realize that it will be just like the centro 5 month later it will come out for every carrier at&t verizon dont kwnow about t mobile
Duran Dujam @ Jan 8th 2009 8:41PM
Yes... AT&T is, of course, the only GSM network...
There are no other GSM networks.....
There's no GSM network that always tops the JD Power awards for customer service....
There's no GSM network known for it's low prices....
Jeff @ Jan 9th 2009 10:11AM
Sprint - Better customer service? Do you REMEMBER the letters? "Dear Customer - we give up - we can't please you - please find another carrier because we're cancelling your phone."
Faster 3G? Maybe larger - but not faster.
Better phones? nah.
Better coverage? Too bad they now lease that coverage. I'd prefer to be with a company that owns it's own towers.
Patrick Horne @ Jan 9th 2009 1:18PM
Nobody's trying to start a network flame war or national brand comparison. The points for me are this.
I and my family are all on ATT, and switching or adding Sprint is economically dumb. More to the point, my biz takes me to many, and I do mean many, rural and urban areas across the southeast. Sprint's cov (& TMob) in the areas is frankly a joke. ATT (and VZW) is excellent with broader cov. The architecture of this device seems to scream for constant coverage. Now if I lived and worked predominantly in NY, DC, or ATL it would be different.
Third, I like GSM tech (international) better and am excited to find out that the Pre is going to deliver HSPDA. If ATT gets the 3G up to Sprint / VZW, we'll be looking at 5-6mbit on the download side.
Cary @ Jan 8th 2009 9:31PM
What?????
> QUOTE Duran Dujam > Yes... AT&T is, of course, the only GSM network...
There are no other GSM networks.....
There's no GSM network that always tops the JD Power awards for customer service....
There's no GSM network known for it's low prices....
celz @ Jan 9th 2009 2:12AM
tmobile is gsm and its known for low prices and it has good cs.. they just have bad smartphones the smallest network and barely any 3g or good 3g dumphones
Cesar Cardoso @ Jan 9th 2009 8:36AM
"Update: We've just seen a copy of the Pre's press release, and sadly, the 3G GSM version is listed as being intended for "other regions" -- in other words, places not served by Sprint."
Can I read "the GSM Palm Pre will only have HSDPA2100"?
Josh @ Jan 10th 2009 1:27PM
I know this post is for the GSM version...but i have a question about the CDMA version (please don't bash me...i can't find the original post lol). does anyone know if the CDMA version is going to have video capture? I have read several reviews that say it does NOT, but i have also read several sites where the specs say it DOES have video capture. anyone know for sure?
Jorge @ Jan 9th 2009 4:25PM
By leaving US 3G out (850 Mhz) they also leave out Mexico's Telcel and maybe the rest of the 3G GSM networks in America (since all of the new continent uses the US 3G frequencies as far as I know). The phone will eventually come out for those networks, or Palm will make an agreement with Iusacell to get into Mexico if they're interested.
Nathan @ Jan 10th 2009 5:46AM
Duran Dujam... really? Ever heard of T-Mobile??
I have experienced the fastest download speeds on my G1. Faster than my uncles Bold or my Cousins Fuze.
T-Mobile is also testing their LTE network in Germany already. I may be wrong but has AT&T even expressed interest in 4G and beyond technology yet?
HelloNNNewman @ Jan 10th 2009 8:24PM
The only things that I worry about with this phone are that they are requiring all software to go through their signing process (meaning slow delivery of applications, and less desire for companies to write stuff - not like Android), and that they are sticking with the Walmart of the cellular industry - Sprint. Say what you will and rave about all the great things about Sprint, but they are the bottom rung of all the services (or at least second to last). They have yet to release a video application for the phone, and the music application is only 'passable' (nothing exciting). This phone has a lot of potential, but I'll wait to see how Palm as a corporation handles everything. They have developed a new OS, but if it is the same old Palm a new OS won't help. Let's hope they have some new young blood pumping through that company to make the new WebOS excite developers like it should!
..... ok, let the flaming commence!! LOL
Aaron @ Jan 10th 2009 9:02PM
I for one don't like exclusive deals. It's why I never got the Iphone I for one don't care for AT&T, Verizon locks too much out of the handsets and T-Mobile doesn't really have good smart-phone (save the G-1). Sprint has crappy Customer service and a bad rep. But really you get just about the same thing with all of them, and that is a company that isn't nearly as good as it should be. So AT&T gets their exclusive phone, T-Mobile gets the G-1 and Sprint gets the PRE I don't see what everyone is complaining that sprint is getting a exclusive phone that doesn't suck this time (looking at you instinct) and everyone gets mad? I don't get it get mad at all the nice phones you want to see on the carrier of your choice don't single out palm here. They all do it.
Sinceer112@ @ Jan 12th 2009 10:28AM
Ok I was waiting to see if sprint would drop something hot before my contract was up in april with them. And for a minute when I saw this phone I was happy until I heard from the people at Palm that this phone the (Palm Pre) is not able to record videos. Like how can it be the Iphone Killer if it does not bring something out that the Iphone really can't do. So to me thats the biggest mistake they have done because the whole idea is to top the Iphone in things it can do. and throw somethings it cant do into the mix. Like A CAMCORDER PLEASE BEFORE THE PHONE IS RELEASED..................................................
Tom @ Jan 15th 2009 11:23AM
Really? all the new things the Pre does and your throwing a temper tantrum about video capture on a 3 MP camera?
tut tut.
Kurt @ Jan 23rd 2009 11:25AM
Won't be ditching my iPhone for this wannabe anytime soon.
Not a worldphone. No deal.
Bruce @ Jan 30th 2009 8:54PM
Ok I am admitting right up front as being a neanderthal regarding all the latest smartphones , 3G, EDGE, etc... Get me out of the glass cockpit thats my workspace and I am back in the stone ages with my old T Mobile GSM coverage.
I use their service in the USA with a non T Mobile unlocked quad band GSM phone.
Otherwise I am using local country specific sim cards to make calls.
I need a (smart) phone that is quad band GSM as I am often overseas and in areas still lacking 3G, ( but its coming...slowy)
I need reliable internet access for browsing and email while on the go.
A good camera w/video would be a nice extra.
I hate the contract lockin with the US cell carriers to upgrade.
I can buy overseas most all of the current phones unlocked although at the higher retail price.
How about some help listing top 5 choices??