Palm Pre to launch on 16 October

 

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By Stuart Turton

Posted on 24 Sep 2009 at 09:18

O2 has finally confirmed that the long-awaited Palm Pre will launch in the UK on 16 October.

As with the iPhone, O2 has won the exclusive network rights for the Palm Pre in the UK, though it will also be sold through Carphone Warehouse and Phones4U in an effort to broaden its high-street reach.

The smartphone is being offered on exactly the same contracts as the iPhone 3GS, which means that customers looking to get the handset free need to sign a 24-month contract at £34.26 per month. This brings 600 UK minutes, 500 UK text messages and unlimited data.

Anybody looking for an 18-month contract will need to shell out at least £44 per month for a free handset. This package will bring 1,200 minutes and 500 minutes, alongside the unlimited data bundle.

Customers with a lot of friends and even more money will be able to take up the £73.41 contract which will bring 3,000 UK minutes.

The cheapest contract, for those Pre lovers on a budget, will cost £29.38 for 18 months, though you'll be looking at paying £96.89 for the handset itself.

Palm has made much of its wireless charging unit, dubbed Touchstone, which allows users to simply place the Pre on its surface to begin charging. Quite whether this is useful enough to be worth the £44.11 O2 wants for it is another matter entirely however.

The company has not revealed details of pay-as-you-go prices. We're waiting to hear back.