Palm Pre to launch in European countries in time for holidays on O2 network, Movistar

Palm Pre to launch in Europe in time for holidays

NEW YORK — Palm Inc. said Tuesday its Pre smart phone will be available on the O2 network in the U.K., Ireland and Germany and Movistar in Spain in time for the holiday season.

The company said the Pre will also launch in Canada on Bell Mobility, a unit of Montreal-based BCE Inc., in the second half of the year.

Palm is betting the Pre helps reverse the company’s long-declining place in the mobile computing market. The phone launched to positive reviews in the U.S. last month with Sprint as the exclusive carrier.

The company’s shares fell 21 cents to 15.52 in morning trading.