Palm Pre versus iPhone: Who's the real winner? (1)

According to an O2 spokesperson, people are buying more Palm Pre than all other devices (including the iPhone 3GS) combined, though some analysts claim that the latest iPhone is selling at least five times more than Pre.

The intense competition between iPhone and Palm Pre has also piqued the media's interest, which wasted no time in dubbing Palm Pre's launch as "finally a REAL iPhone killer has arrived."

But, what is it that makes Palm Pre so hot, so "much-wanted" and so "iPhone killer"?

First, let us do away with the similarities.

Both the phones are nearly similar in shape and size and weight, comes with quad-band, EDGE/GSM, 3G/HSDPA support at up to 3.6Mbit/s, Bluetooth, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi for internet access, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Both have Bluetooth support for wireless headsets and boast of a similar sized multitouch screen display (iPhone's is a wee bit bigger) with 320 x 480 resolution that allows you to pinch, flick and swirl your fingers across the touchpad for intuitive navigation. It also allows users to scroll, zoom in and out and flip through web pages, photos, spreadsheets and more.

Both have GPS capability for location-based services, such as the built-in Google Maps, and an accelerometer that senses if you rotate the device and changes the display to match.

Like iPhone, Palm Pre tops in form factor and has minimal keys on the outside as it focuses more on touchscreen experience. On the left side, it has volume up/down buttons, and a mute switch on the top, next to the on/off button while on the right side, it has a small flap covering the microUSB connector, and a single centre button is located beneath the screen.

And, both are priced in the UK nearly the same. Though Palm Pre isn't currently available on PAYG yet, but it is available at O2 stores (Palm Pre is also available at Carphone Warehouse, Phones4U, and other O2 partners) in the UK on five differing contracts which see the 18 month plans coming in at £44.05 (1200 mins talktime, 500 texts, unlimited net access) and £73.41 (3000 mins talktime, 500 texts, unlimited net access), as well as the 24 month £34.26 plan (600 mins talktime, 500 texts, unlimited net access) giving you the Palm Pre for "free" while the 18 month £29.38 and £34.26 plans (75/125 and 600/500 talktime/texts respectively) will see you coughing up some £97 extra in order to secure the smartphone. Definitely not the best of tariff deals, but, unfortunately, there is nothing we can do about that.