It looks like the UK’s iPhone 3G carrier is preparing to pit the iPhone 3G against the GSM variant of the Palm Pre. According to the Guardian, O2 has inked a deal with Palm that would give the carrier exclusive rights to sell the Palm Pre in the UK. The report mentions that O2 beat out rivals Vodafone and Orange in a bid to lock down the hotly anticipated Palm Pre through exclusivity contracts.
Interestingly, O2 is also Apple’s partner carrier for the iPhone 3G. And, if tradition holds, O2 will also be Apple’s UK partner for the upcoming iPhone 2009. Should that happen, O2 will be the carrier to watch – as Apple and Palm go head to head with the new iPhone and Palm Pre duking it out over GSM customers. Forget “Pre v. iPhone” polls, O2’s sales figures might just have the final say on the UK’s preference between the two multi-touch smartphones.
[Via: Guardian]