O2 has apparently won the race to stock the forthcoming Palm Pre when it's announced as a UK version next week.
The Guardian is stating that O2 won the right to range the latest iPhone competitor, beating off Orange and Vodafone in the process, with the former apparently involved in the race until the last minute.
O2 obviously has a deal in place to stock the iPhone on an exclusive multi-year deal, so many expected Apple to block a move for the network to stock the Pre too.
No comment
However both O2 and the Carphone Warehouse (which is also an official stockist of the iPhone) will range the device, although no date for release has been given.
TechRadar spoke to Palm and O2 to confirm the story, but both stated it was just speculation at this point and refused to comment. However, given the sheer volume of rumours about O2 and the Palm Pre, it wouldn't be a surprise if it was announced as the official stockist later this month.
Via The Guardian.
Your comments (5) Click to add a new comment
khsbenny
July 4th
5. Why would mobile phone manufactures do this? Its ridiculous.
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amit290
July 2nd
4. Thats bad news ! The O2 service (signal) is very poor on my iPhone. I only get a signal at home if its on the bedroom window sill. The internet is very slow when going via O2.
I also have an N95 8GB on '3' and that thing flies! It means going back to the stone ages (pressing buttons) to go online but it actually ends up quicker doing that than waiting for pages to download on the iPhone (3g).
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optimaximal
July 2nd
3. This was obviously going to happen - O2's iPhone exclusivity is about to expire & they need a new heavily advertised phone to harp on about. There's also strong rumours they're picking up the Samsung Galaxy/i7500 too.
The iPhone could be in trouble without someone heavily subsidising it - the unlocked 32GB version is selling for £900 at retail (on Play.com)!
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f4780y
July 1st
2. Brilliant. Tied into iPhone 3G contract with O2, so no hope of a 3GS for less than £500+, and now, no hope of a Pre without the same kind of investment... They could have won a watch if they'd put it on any other network...
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kopacabana
July 1st
1. Great. Well that's me not getting a Pre then. I won't touch the O2 network. What a shame - I, like most, had been waiting for it to arrive for ages. I guess I be waiting even longer for either the Satio/Toshiba/next decent Nokia. ** hum.
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