Sprint Nextel has exclusive rights for the next nine months to sell the Palm Pre touch-screen smartphone, and plans to use the remainder of 2009 to heavily promote Palm's latest phone.
The Pre will be available bundled with the Sprint Everything Data or Simply Everything plans. Subscribers will pay $69.99 per month for 450 minutes, $89.99 per month for 900 minutes, or $99.99 per month for unlimited talk, with each plan coming with unlimited data.
Families with more than one line can choose from the Everything Data 1500 or 3000 minute plans, or subscribe to the Simply Everything plan. Everything Data 1500 is $129.99 per month foor two lines, $169.99 for 3,000 minutes on two lines, or $189.99 for unlimited talk minutes on two lines, with each plan coming with unlimited data.
The Pre has a 3.1-inch multitouch screen, Bluetooth 2.1, WiFi, USB, GPS, built-in 3-megapixel camera, and actually has received a fair amount of hype since its official announcement.
Palm and Sprint exclusively working together means two struggling companies that need a big 2009 will try to help one another achieve their goals. Sprint has struggled over the past two years, with the company losing millions of subscribers who are leaving to join AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile. In addition, Palm has been unable to answer against the Research in Motion (RIM) BlackBerry line of smartphones, and has greatly struggled.
I'm curious to see if either company will benefit from this partnership, as the Palm Pre will be exclusive until January 2010.
