VZW prices Palm devices

Verizon Wireless finally filled in the blanks for its planned launch of Palm Inc.’s Pre Plus and Pixi Plus scheduled for Jan. 25.
The devices, which were shown at the recent Consumer Electronics Show, will be available for $150 for the Pre Plus and $100 for the Pixi Plus, in line with what Sprint Nextel Corp. is currently charging for the standard Pre and Pixi models. (All prices include rebates and a two-year contact.) At CES, Palm announced that the “Plus” models would include greater memory and a slight redesign for the Pre and Wi-Fi capabilities for the Pixi. Both models will also include embedded mobile hot spot capabilities.
Customers picking up either device at Verizon Wireless will be required to add the carrier’s recently introduced $30 per month 3G Smartphone data package to their selected voice package. The package provides for unlimited data usage on the carrier’s network. Unlimited messaging can also be added to any voice plan for $20 per month.
Both Palm devices will initially be available with Palm’s current 1.3 version of its WebOS operating system, but will be automatically updated to the 1.4 version next month.
While the addition of the nation’s largest carrier as a distribution point for Palm is considered a positive, the device manufacturer will have considerable competition in garnering customer attention. Palm’s devices were central to advertising campaigns at Sprint Nextel where both the Pre and Pixi were initially available exclusively after launch. That is different at Verizon Wireless where the carrier has focused considerable attention on its Motorola Inc. Droid device as a counter to Apple Inc.’s iPhone that is available exclusively at Verizon Wireless’ strongest competitor AT&T Mobility.