Site Offering Pre-Orders for Unlocked GSM Palm Pre?
Posted by: Christopher Meinck
on Apr 23, 2009 
Palm has stated that a GSM version of the Palm Pre is in the works and many expect an announcement regarding a European release of the Palm Pre to occur in the next couple of months. GSM is the predominant wireless technology throughout the world and it is also used by AT&T and T-Mobile in the US. If the European GSM model is "quad-band", then an "unlocked" version would be functional with any US sim card. Apparently MobileCity feels confident that Palm will release a quad-band GSM model and has started taking pre-orders for an unlocked Palm Pre.
For $699.99, you can own a pre-order for an unlocked Palm Pre that hasn't been announced yet and has no ETA. Buyer beware.
Thanks to RichR in our forums.
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Comments (19)
written by RichR, April 23, 2009
Also, just so you guys know, Like many other companies, mobilecity will NOT charge your credit card until the ship date of the product. If you live in the NYC area, they also have a shop in Brooklyn which is VERY nice. I do hope this is true with the release as I will have a hard time leaving AT&T to Sprint.
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written by Christopher Meinck, April 23, 2009
@RichR
I like the flexibility that AT&T provides allowing me to swap SIM cards between my phones. I'm also in NY (Long Island) and have had great experiences with Sprint. I used a Sprint Treo 700p for quite a while and had no issues. With AT&T, I get quite a few "Call Failed". That being said, Sprint coverage in my house is not as good as AT&T. I just finished reviewing the Treo Pro and did not get a full compliment of bars in my house.
I like the flexibility that AT&T provides allowing me to swap SIM cards between my phones. I'm also in NY (Long Island) and have had great experiences with Sprint. I used a Sprint Treo 700p for quite a while and had no issues. With AT&T, I get quite a few "Call Failed". That being said, Sprint coverage in my house is not as good as AT&T. I just finished reviewing the Treo Pro and did not get a full compliment of bars in my house.
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written by RichR, April 23, 2009
Did you review the sprint version of the treo pro? I hear it has some signal issues but I wanted to know otherwise how it compared to the GSM version.
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written by Christopher Meinck, April 23, 2009
I found it very similar to the unlocked version, but less expensive and the addition of Sprint apps like SprintTV (which I like a lot) and YouTube Videos. I've been using a BlackBerry Bold/iPhone lately, so using the Pro was different in a good way. When I reviewed the unlocked version, I said the keyboard felt "cramped". It's still very small, but I'm a fan of the tactile response of the "gummy" keys. Typing was very easy on the Treo Pro. It's not for those with big hands, but I could see using that keyboard as my daily driver. I use the web quite a bit and I'm continuously disappointed by IE. IE is poor at best.
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written by RichR, April 23, 2009
Does only the sprint version have youtube out of the box? Or does the GSM version have it too. Also, back on the GSM pre news. Just got off the phone with mobilecity and they are saying for sure it will support 3g USA 850 and 1900 bands. They are still unsure on the release.
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written by Christopher Meinck, April 23, 2009
The YouTube videos app is a Palm application. I don't remember it being on the unlocked version. It's done with Kinoma Player and it's well done. Let do some checking and get back to you, as I'm not sure if it's on the GSM model.
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written by Christopher Meinck, April 23, 2009
Just checked Palm's specs and YouTube Videos is not listed on the unlocked Treo Pro. BTW, the Sprint version does offer a boost in user memory. 256MB to 512MB. User memory goes from 100MB to 300MB.
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written by oneAwake, April 23, 2009
How can that site talk pre-orders when:
1) Palm has not officially announced the Euro version
2) Palm has not chosen a European carrier yet
3) Palm has not announced the price
Also, to my understanding, the GSM Euro version will only have Edge access in the US. This reminds of those sites that popped up right before the launch of the Samsung Instinct, a lot of people were scammed. My suggestion is to stay away from those sites and to wait until Palm announces the release of the Euro version.
1) Palm has not officially announced the Euro version
2) Palm has not chosen a European carrier yet
3) Palm has not announced the price
Also, to my understanding, the GSM Euro version will only have Edge access in the US. This reminds of those sites that popped up right before the launch of the Samsung Instinct, a lot of people were scammed. My suggestion is to stay away from those sites and to wait until Palm announces the release of the Euro version.
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written by Christopher Meinck, April 23, 2009
@oneAwake I tend to agree with you. We still don't have a CDMA release date in the US and these guys are selling an unlocked, unannounced model that works in the US? Perhaps a "Notify me when an unlocked GSM model is available" would have been a better idea than a full blown "cart ready" unlocked Palm Pre.
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written by oneAwake, April 23, 2009
@Christopher Meinck
I seriously doubt Palm will be shipping the Pre to mobilecityonline, especially a site most people have never heard of, not to mention the numerous complaints. Sadly, I feel a lot of people are going to be scammed because they simply cannot wait.
I seriously doubt Palm will be shipping the Pre to mobilecityonline, especially a site most people have never heard of, not to mention the numerous complaints. Sadly, I feel a lot of people are going to be scammed because they simply cannot wait.
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written by Christopher Meinck, April 23, 2009
@oneAwake I'm guessing these sites buy their phones overseas and then use some method to unlock them. I've seen yet another of these sites crop up today and they falsely claim a "june release date".
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written by oneAwake, April 23, 2009
@Christopher Meinck
I kinda suspected there is a possibility those sites are not an actual company, basically, those sites are being run by people who at the same time are taking a crap. "Trying" to buy phones then "trying" to unlock them, should be enough to steer people away. As I said previously, an unlocked version will only have Edge access, it will not have access to all of the features either. Unless someone really needs a GSM device in a GSM loaction over seas, I do not see the logic in wanting a GSM (with Edge access) over a CDMA version in the US. Versizon did a survey a while back which concluded that, of all the US mobile phone users who travel abroad. 60% travel to CDMA areas, Canada, Mexico, Asia, South America, etc.
I kinda suspected there is a possibility those sites are not an actual company, basically, those sites are being run by people who at the same time are taking a crap. "Trying" to buy phones then "trying" to unlock them, should be enough to steer people away. As I said previously, an unlocked version will only have Edge access, it will not have access to all of the features either. Unless someone really needs a GSM device in a GSM loaction over seas, I do not see the logic in wanting a GSM (with Edge access) over a CDMA version in the US. Versizon did a survey a while back which concluded that, of all the US mobile phone users who travel abroad. 60% travel to CDMA areas, Canada, Mexico, Asia, South America, etc.
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written by myclub69, April 23, 2009
this is very odd because sprint is the exclusive carrier in the US, i don't think anyone is "allowed" to use a pre until 2010. wow would palm manage to stab sprint like that? i seriously think it's a scam.
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written by AKITAYO, April 23, 2009
A little expensive $699.99 Just wait what Palm would make price for unlocked device They are including/showing sync software in the box.
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written by andrewyb, April 23, 2009
I'd love to be able to just pre-order the palm pre here in the US. I want to secure one of the first units from the local sprint store.
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written by Milaine, April 26, 2009
This will definately be the killer phone to have for 2009. Though, I doubt it will make much of an impact being that it will be on the Sprint CDMA network. I was able to find a GSM Palm Pre. Too bad it's not coming out in the States
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