Nearly nine months after the release of the unlocked GSM version of Palm's Treo Pro, a seemingly official AT&T version is now available in Best Buy Mobile stores. This represents the first time a carrier-subsidized version of the GSM Treo Pro has been made available for sale in the USA since its release last August.

Earlier today in the Mobile department of a local Best Buy store, I spotted an endcap display containing not only generic Treo Pro signage but also a price tag dated May 3rd with full pricing and stock information along with a non-functional Treo Pro dummy handset. The display Pro was unbranded but appeared identical to the unlocked GSM version. The descriptive text on the price tag was not overly detailed but did indicate specs essentially identical to the existing unlocked version, so there is unfortunately no Windows Mobile 6.5 surprise in the works from Palm and AT&T. It is also unclear if the AT&T version shares the same hardware specs as the unlocked version or if it received the RAM and CPU boost as seen in the newer CDMA variants.

As originally reported by Prethinking, a number of Pre accessories have turned up in Best Buy's computer system, including five different cases (three acrylic, one leather and one labeled "Palm Pre case") and - much more interestingly - the "Touchstone Kit", priced @ $69.99, confirming earlier rumours of the wireless charger's price.

It's pretty pricey for a cradle, but at least the use of "Kit" means it's likely that the required replacement battery cover for the Pre is included.

The updates keep rolling in for O'Reilly's work-in-progress webOS development guide, with Chapter Six of (deep breath) "Palm webOS: Developing Applications in JavaScript using the Palm Mojo Framework" now available at Safari Books Online. This chapter covers the various data storage methods available in webOS: cookies, HTML 5 Databases and a simple 5mb 'depot'.

The book, written by Palm Software CTO Mitch Allen and members of the webOS development team, is due for release in August. You can pre-order a copy on Amazon or read the book as it's written at Safari Books.

Palm OS Card Reader $11.95 now $7.95 BlackJack Deluxe $12.95 now $4.95 Personal Audio Recorder PRO $24.95 now $7.95 PalmaryClock Screensaver $9.95 now $4.95 CallRec $19.99 now $14.99

Windows Mobile SmartTweaker 2008 $14.95 now $4.95 USB Modem (WM) $19.95 now $14.95 Meteor Brick Breaker $11.95 now $9.99 MobileArchiver $19.95 now $11.95 MakeNPlayQuiz-Multimedia $9.95 now $4.95

TealPoint Software has released version 1.0 of its new TealWheel popup application launcher for Palm OS devices. TealWheel works much like the wave launcher in WebOS (and the former TealOS). It allows you to bring up your own custom set of app shortcuts with application previews from anywhere within the OS. It also keeps automatic history lists, has support for up to 5 independent icon wheels with 12 icons each. The app is also very finger friendly and has many other various special device control functions built in.

TealWheel Popup Launcher v1.00 is available now for $14.95 and it comes with a free trial period. It is compatible with devices running Palm OS 5.0 or higher.

Rumor: The Boy Genius Report has posted something that looks to be a Internal Sprint schedule for events and training around the Palm Pre. Although the authenticity is not certain, if accurate the document could help solidify the rumors regarding the June 7th Palm Pre launch timeframe.

The internal memo lists a schedule for what appears to be employee training sessions and presentations. The most telling detail is that the only event listed for Friday, June 5th is the "LAUNCH LUNCH!" While Sunday has been the traditional Sprint launch day, with the Pre being such an anticipated device they could likely be planning for a Friday afternoon release. The full memo is mirrored after the break.

The anonymous blogger behind the InsideSprintNow blog is back yet again with even more Pre-related goodness. This time around, the post deals with the flurry of discussion about the Pre requiring a new plan on new or upgraded line of service in order to activate a Pre. Over the past few months, many current Palm smartphone owners have been up in arms over the now-defunct SERO plans not being applicable for the Pre.

A full breakdown is listed for all of the applicable business, personal individual and family shared plans officially available for the Pre on Sprint. In addition, the chart goes the extra step to show the various discounts available on each plan for users who may, for example, bank with a credit union or work for a certain employer and be eligible for a service discount.

Palm Inc. today officially announced that Palm Pre will debut in Canada exclusively on Bell Mobility's 3G high-speed mobile network in the second half of 2009.

"Bell is excited to be only the second carrier in the world to announce the 3G Pre," said Adel Bazerghi, senior vice president of Products for Bell Mobility. "With the unique user experience of the world's first webOS phone, running on the country's largest 3G network, we're confident that Canadians will embrace Pre as the phone for their lives today."

Application Development Trends Magazine has posted a new article showcasing the continued strong feedback from developers about Palm's WebOS. Entitled "Will Palm Get its ‘Mojo' Back with WebOS and Pre?" the piece is written by ADT editor Jeffrey Schwartz.

In short, ADT surmises that the general consensus amongst the developer is that Palm is back from the brink of oblivion with a compelling, developer-friendly new mobile platform and device. The piece also discusses the various PreDevCamps, which are being formed and operated totally autonomously from Sprint, Palm Inc., or the Palm Developer Network.

EverytingPre has a rather interesting, under the radar story up about one of the very first hands-on Pre reports from an actual user. EverythingPre forum member Artap99 claims to have access to a Pre for a short time via a friend who does "online electronic product reviews" and let him play with the device for approximately one hour. Whether or not the Pre in question was final production hardware and/or OS is uncertain.

Over the course of 11 pages in the EverythingPre forums, Artap99 addresses some questions and concerns from users while posting additional details about the device though posting no substantially detailed or new info such as what was revealed last week by the InsideSprintNow blog. Many EverythingPre forum members have expressed serious doubts about the validity of the information provided by Artap99 due to its vagueness. However, Everything Pre site Admin Christopher Meinck has reiterated his support for the poster's authenticity, thus our determination of the story as news-worthy.

LinuxDevices has posted a new article dated May 4th entitled "Palm Prepping a Mini-Pre?". Most interestingly, the piece discusses some potential Pre technical issues that Palm may currently be facing that could lead to reduced quantities available at launch.

Quoting an eWeek story by Michelle Maisto suggesting that Palm's ODM partner for the Pre, Chi Mei, could be dealing with "multiple hardware and software issues…" causing Palm to "…dramatically reduce its production orders for Pre…". Chi Mei is a majority-owned subsidiary of electronics giant Foxconn.