Palm Pre From Sprint: $549 without contract

We reported yesterday the official release date and price of the much-anticipated Palm Pre. The price for the new smartphone is $199 after rebate on a two-year Sprint contract, but how much would the handset be off-contract. We can tell you that it will cost you $549 without contract.

Engadget explains that the price is just off-contract and not for an unlocked handset, so if you were thinking of heading over to Verizon with your Palm Pre, you had better think again. Not certain how well the Pre will do as Sprint is not the best network in the U.S.

We know that Apple have tied themselves down to just AT&T with its iPhone, but it is a better choice than Sprint. As we know, Palm is putting all of its hopes on the Pre; it would have made more sense to offer it to more than one carrier.