The Palm Pre smartphone, announced back at CES in January and promptly touted as the latest threat to Apple's rampant iPhone, could soon make its UK appearance exclusively with mobile operator O2.
The handset, pictured below, launched in the U.S. early in June but Palm has thus far remained reluctant to provide global availability details. Fortunately for those eager to get their hands on Palm's latest, The Guardian newspaper is reporting that O2 has secured a deal to "become the exclusive UK partner" for the "eagerly awaited Palm Pre handset".
Both Palm and O2 have thus far declined to comment, but an official announcement is expected to be made next week.
According to The Guardian, O2 has seen off competition from the likes of Orange in order to secure the deal, and the UK mobile operator will now hold exclusive rights to distribute both Apple's iPhone and Palm's Pre.
Following its U.S. launch, the Pre has garnered a number of positive reviews from critics, and first-week sales were estimated in the region of 100,000.
