Bell on Wednesday became the first Canadian carrier to say it would offer the Palm Pre. The phone is identical to the American version and has the same 3.1-inch multi-touch display, 3-megapixel camera, 3G over EVDO Revision A, GPS and Wi-Fi as the model destined for Sprint. No mention has been made as to whether the phone will include any special apps or other unique features for the carrier.

A specific launch date and pricing aren't available, though Bell echoes Sprint in having landed an exclusive deal and says the phone will ship slightly later than in the US, arriving in the second half of the year.

The deal is a rare coup for Bell and is a potential blow to both Telus, which could also have supported the Pre, as well as Rogers, which centers most of its smartphone efforts on the iPhone. Other webOS phones aren't expected until the Palm Eos, which has fewer features than the Pre but is due for both GSM and CDMA networks.