Germany welcomes the GSM version of Palm Pre, now on sale

After some good 8 months worth of waiting, the Palm Pre has finally landed in Europe. Welcome, it was about time. As of today you can purchase a shiny new Pre given that you live in Germany that is, and you're willing to go for O2.

Shortly after our German friends, Spain will also be having a ball, expecting the thing some time tomorrow (on O2 again). And, as we promised you last time, on 16 October the device is going to be launched in the UK.

Unfortunately, currently there are no other European launches planned but we guess it's only a matter of time for it to start spreading across Europe in a blitzkrieg.

In Germany you can have the Palm Pre GSM for 481 euro SIM-free. However if you go for a 24-month contract with O2 (Telefonica) it will cost you only 1 euro (now that's carrier subsidizing!) but you'll have to shell out 20 euro each a month during the next 2 years (which is exactly 480 euro).

The situation in the UK is a little bit different. The most affordable way to get a Pre will probably be the 18-month contract with O2. You pay 96.89 GBP for the smartphone itself and a monthly fee of 29.38 GBP. In the end of the contract you would have paid at least 625.73 GBP.

Well, it turns out that the Pre ain't gonna cost that less than an iPhone 3GS so the decision remains hard. Or maybe not? Give us your thoughts in the comments.

Sources: O2 Germany, Movistar Spain, O2 UK, O2 Ireland