Palm Pre to become Best Buy exclusive?
updated 10:35 am EST, Thu January 15, 2009
Palm Pre Best Buy Leak
Sprint may give Best Buy the lone exclusive for the Palm Pre outside of the carrier's own stores, a slip to webOS Arena claims. A "credible source" states that Best Buy Mobile stores will be the only retailer outside of Sprint itself to carry the smartphone for its first 60 days on sale, temporarily curbing availability during an expected initial rush. The move is unconfirmed but would echo a similar approach for the Samsung Instinct, which was Sprint's fastest-selling phone ever on launch in June.
No information is available on when the Pre launch itself would take place or pricing, though Palm is widely believe to be setting the price between $199 and $249 on a contract. Rumors have also circulated that Sprint will have a similar carrier exclusive on the Pre as it did for the Centro, where the provider only has exclusivity for 90 days before rivals can sell their own versions.
