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Go figure.  Alltel (who has no relation to Gadgetell whatsoever, though if we were to buy a teleco, the name is so close, it would make loads of sense) looks to be the go-getter bringing the once-exciting-but-not-so-much-now Treo Pro to market first in the US.  According to a rumor over at BGR, the phone will launch at $199 in the US.

I’ve man-handled the Pro and found it to be nice.  But just nice, not amazing or mind blowing like some other sibling phone.  It is just OK.  Which is most likely why Sprint is launching it on the Alltel brand so as not to steal thunder or create confusion when it drops the Palm Pre slated for the first half of this year.  It is a move that makes some sense.

The phone features 3G speeds, WiFi (a big step for Palm) and GPS.  It is a decent phone that we’ve all but forgotten about as I fear have many consumers.  The phone was unveiled back in August unlocked at $549.  I’ve yet to see anyone in the field with this phone.

But $199?  That isn’t going to help this phone make any waves, especially since we’ve seen this phone offered in Canada for $99, albeit with a 3-year contract.  My theory is Palm/Sprint know they need to keep the Pro as a stepping stone to the Pre, so $199 for the Pro leads to a $299 Pre.  Just a guess though at this stage of the game.

If you have been jonesing for this phone, looks like you’ll get it with a carrier subsidization shortly.  Of course, we’ve been told that for quite some time now.

Source: [BGR]