Telefónica gets Palm Pre for Spain, Latin America, UK
updated 06:40 pm EDT, Wed March 11, 2009
Telefonica Pre deal
Telefónica's Movistar has negotiated an exclusive deal with Palm to distribute the upcoming Pre handset in Spain and Latin America, according to a number of Spanish news outlets. Sources also claim that the company's subsidiary, O2, will sell the device in the UK market. The reports mark the first alleged confirmation of carriers beyond Sprint to get the smartphone, although outside of the domestic market.
Although the Pre initially will be exclusively distributed through Sprint in the US, a competitor to the iPhone's carrier, AT&T, the Telefónica deal potentially brings the device alongside the iPhone without requiring subscribers to jump ship. Movistar carries the iPhone in Spain, while O2 offers the device in the UK.
Specific launch dates have yet to be announced, although the sources placed availability before summer.
