More pre-release demand for the Palm Pre than the iPhone

A quarter of consumers surveyed interested in new webOS phone

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13 October 2009 11:55 GMT / By Amy-Mae Elliott

If you are considering getting the Pre, then it might interest you to know that more than a quarter of UK consumers surveyed recently by TNS have expressed an interest in buying Palm's new Pre smartphone, due to go on sale via O2 in the UK at the end of this week.

26% of those quizzed will "definitely or probably" snap up a Pre, which is 10% more than those who expressed similar intent to get an Apple iPhone back in 2007.

The figure that wants a Pre grows to 27% as far as existing O2 customers go and 32% of those asked currently on other networks said they'd consider switching to O2 to get it.

"While awareness of the Palm Pre is lower than that of the iPhone pre-launch, the figures suggest that once the new handset hits the shelves it has the potential to capture a substantial share of the UK's smartphone market", says TNS.

Palm Pre is due to launch in the UK on 16 October. It will be free to O2 customers taking out a £34.26 a month, 24-month contract and to customers taking an 18-month contract at £44.05 or £73.41 per month.

Those opting for £29.38 or £34.26, 18-month contracts will have to stump up £96.89 for the handset.

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