Best Buy created some hype around Palm's new webOS handset recently, offering a $100 instant rebate on the Palm Pre, rather than a mail-in one. Sprint also recently confirmed that the phone would be available no-contract for $549. Best Buy clearly wants to see customers picking up a plan with their Pre, listing a no-contract price of the new handset for a whopping $850, reports Gizmodo. Should this price remain on launch day, we wouldn't expect anyone to buy the phone outright from Big Blue.
Meanwhile, Gadget 37 reports that over 1000 Best Buy Mobile stores have been in "extensive training" for the new webOS handset (Sprint employees already have received training units). Scott Anderson, director of Best Buy Mobile, states that employees will be ready to configure the Palm Pre according to customers needs, trained in syncing e-mail accounts, setting up bluetooth, transferring over contacts from your old cellphone, and activating other services so you can be ready to go. So looks like you won't have to worry too much about your mom and grandpa when they go pick up their new Pre.
In addition, Boy Genius had a short interview with Anderson, who reports that stores will be initiating a "ticketing process" beginning June 6th, logging customer names to prioritize them for the next shipment. Every Best Buy Mobile store in the US will have the Pre for sale, but they expect inventory to be limited for the first 4-8 weeks.
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