Palm Pre coming to Europe in October 2009 and Celluloco.com is determined to make it available UNLOCKED!

As promised O2 is bringing the GSM version of the Palm Pre to the lucky people of Europe and by mid-October you can have it too. So far, O2 Germany, UK and Ireland websites have information about the upcoming release. Strangely enough Movistar that should be offering the Pre in Spain is still quiet about it.

Movistar was supposed to offer the Palm Pre in Spain and it was sort of implied that they will release it at about the same time as O2. Well maybe they just forgot to put up the announcement. At any rate, O2 Germany seems to be releasing it first - October 13th, while O2 UK will offer it three days later.O2 Ireland doesn't list a specific date but they do have info on the tariffs.

Here's the rundown - the British can get the Pre on a 30 pounds a month eighteen-month contract for 97 pounds, or for free for either 44 or 34 pounds a month (18 and 24 month contracts respectively). All these contracts include unlimited network data and Wi-Fi access. You can get it directly from O2 stores (including the online store), or through Carphone Warehouse and Phones4U.

Things in Ireland are pricier - 99 euro for the phone with an 18-month contract, 45 euro monthly tariff or for free for 100 euro a month (again 18-month contract). Wi-Fi is free, though network data is capped at 1GB (2 eurocents per MB in excess).

For now O2 Germany seems to be the only provider offering the Palm Pre SIM-free - but there's a cost to pay. Specifically, 20 euro a month for 24 months. The other options are 50 or 90 euro for the phone and 8.50 or 17 euro a month respectively (24-month contract). Data costs an extra 8.50 euro for unlimited data though they drop you to GPRS speeds when you exceed 200MB.

All these plans include various limits (or lack of limits) on voice calls and SMS but you can check that out yourself as it all depends on how much you talk usually. However, using the Palm Pre without a data plan is certainly a waste of its talents.

Read more »

Celluloco.com finds Palm Pre GSM version in Vietnam

It’s not the first time you’ll hear us saying that the GSM version of Palm Pre was spotted... somewhere. Well, this will go on until Palm finally decide to release the thing on our side of the Big Pond. But until then, we guess we'll have to do with spy shots of the sort.

It's been nearly a month since the CDMA version of Palm Pre headed for the stores for the first time but the question on the GSM version is still open.

We really hope the next time the GSM Palm Pre shows up on our frontpage, it will be to inform you of its official announcement.

Read more »

Celluloco.com to Offer GSM Version of Palm Pre to Select Clientelle Starting October 2009

 

Palm have have been pretty secretive about their European domination plans obviously aiming at getting us by surprise with the Pre embarking on our shores out of the blue one sunny day. While we like that idea, we're glad that information about the actual availability is already leaking out.

The Palm Pre WebOS is one of the most exciting mobile OS lately. If you haven't seen a demo of it, you've missed so many things. Fans of Palm's latest device are already able to get it via the CDMA-operating Sprint network carrier. However, the European availability of a GSM-enabled Palm Pre is something that has not received due attention by the Palm PR.

Yes, we know there is a GSM version of Palm Pre, since we saw it ourselves at this year's Mobile World Congress. We even know that O2 is getting it as a part of an exclusive deal for the UK. But how about a timeframe - why not something more substantial on actual availability dates and pricing?

As it seems the Romanian newspaper Ziarul Financiar is that one of the Romanian Palm importers I.R.I.S. have shared juicy details on those two things that we have been missing on.

Read more »

Palm Pre Will Support iTunes - YeahhhH!

Now hardly anyone will be totally shocked about that but when it gets official, it can still make it in the news. The hotly anticipated Palm Pre smartphone will sport iTunes support, once it appears on the market. This provides a simple and easy way (if you are using a Mac or you're just dependent on your iPhone/iPod infatuation) to transfer DRM-free music, photos and videos to your Palm Pre.

According to the company iTunes will have no trouble recognizing the Palm Pre, once you connect it to a computer through USB and choose the "media sync" option on the handset. From then on you can choose which media files to interchange as long as they are DRM-free.

The other good news is that the Palm Pre will also be able to act as a mass storage drive providing the easiest available way for loading content. Once connected to a computer using the USB cable, Pre will appear as a drive on the computer desktop. You can drag and drop music, photos or video files onto your Pre, or drag files from your Pre to the computer.

Read more »

ZunePhone takes on iPhone and Pre

Microsoft has jumped on the Twitter bandwagon - the latest buzz-generator of choice - with an account for Office 2010 but two somewhat cryptic tweets suggest a new Zune product launch is just around the corner.

They advise us to hold off on buying an iPhone 2009 or a Pre because June will be "an important month for Zune lovers." Seeing how they mention two quite popular phones, could this product be the ZunePhone? With Windows Mobile 6.5 launch imminent, a PocketPC with the new OS and a Zune software package doesn't seem too unlikely.

In related news, yesterday Windows Marketplace opened for developer registrations. According to the Marketplace FAQ, this means it should be open for application submissions soon. During the registration process, developers will be provided with documentation about distributing apps through Marketplace. Unfortunately, currently the registration seems restricted to US residents only.

So far, there's no indication that the Zune Marketplace will merge with Windows Marketplace but it seems a logical step if a ZunePhone is released.

Either way, with the Pre very, very likely coming in early June, not just Zune lovers, but all gadget lovers in general will have a ball next month. We know we would...

Read more »

Office 2007 will be included in new Palm Pre!

Still no word on pricing or a release date, but the kind chappie running Inside Sprint Now has posted up a little Pre FAQ to tide us over. If you're inclined to believe this information indeed comes from deep within Sprint customer service -- and we've no reason to not to -- you'll find some interesting factoids in the mix, including full support for Office 2007, ringback tones, and custom ringtones. There's also a promise of video recording support and wireless PictBridge printing sometime down the line. Great, great -- but we'd really rather learn all this stuff on our own after release, you know?

Read more »

Palm Pre definitely coming to Canada on Bell Mobility

What the CEO wants, the CEO gets -- right? Evidently so, as just four months after Ed Colligan proudly stated that he wanted the Pre in Canadian hands, Palm has revealed that the to-be launched handset will indeed grace the cellular airwaves in the Great North. Canucks will have to rely on Bell Mobility (a CDMA carrier, for those unaware) for service, and they'll have to wait until "the second half of 2009" to indulge. Check the read link to get yourself signed up for notifications, and feel free to start the countdown until 11:59PM on December 31st, 2009.

Read more »

Palm Pre's little sibbling also due to hit shelves

Palm Pre is coming. Soon. Really soon. They say it's about to show up on the shelves in May or June. Well, one thing is for sure: the closer it comes the more rumors surround it.

Like this one: according to BusinessWeek the manufacturing cost of a Pre is 138 US dollars which is way lower than iPhone's 174 US dollars or even BlackBerry Bold's 169 US dollars. Celluloco.com will have it for sale for an affodable price over that.

The next thing going on in Rumorlandia is that Pre's Mom and Dad are expecting its smaller brother later this year. We admit it does sound unsubstantial, as even the original Pre is still awaiting its release date.

It is supposed that the mini version of Pre (shall we say Mini-Pre?) will be targeted at other markets.Supposedly, the Mini-Pre will also run the new WebOS but it's not clear whether there will be a hardware keypad.Until then, we'll keep on waiting for the day the GSM-version of the Palm Pre becomes available.

By the way, you could be among the first to get one. All you need is a bit more luck and reviewers skills since Palm are looking for the Palm Real Reviewer (only US residents over 18 years of age may apply). Why not give it a shot?

Read more »