HP slashes Pre3 price to $75 after dropping US launch plans
updated 06:25 pm EDT, Mon August 22, 2011
Unlocked handset sold for fraction of retail price
Despite HP's suggestion that its webOS smartphone business is alive and well, the company has reportedly eliminated plans to launch the new Pre3 handset in the US. The device is said to be heading to France and the UK as an unlocked handset for just $75, a fraction of the typical unsubsidized price for a new high-end smartphone.
Just one week ago, the Pre3 was listed by the UK electronics retailer Play.com with a pre-order price of £350 (~$575 USD). The seller still lists the Pre3's predecessor, the Pre 2, at a discounted price of £150 ($245 USD).
The Pre3 aims to keep up with its rivals, pairing a 1.4GHz processor with a 3.6-inch touchscreen that jumps to 480x800 resolution. The webOS 2.2 device also provides a five-megapixel primary camera, front-facing camera, 512MB of RAM and 16GB of integrated storage.
HP has yet to provide detailed reasons for stepping out of the US market, however recent reports suggest the company has encountered problems maintaining partnerships with US carriers. Sprint was initially said to be the exclusive carrier in the country, however the carrier is believed to have wiped webOS devices from its roadmap.
The Pre3 sale is not unique to the webOS platform, arriving shortly after the company bowed out of the tablet arena by slashing the TouchPad price down to just $100. [via PCMag]
