I love the way Best Buy just skips those annoying mail in rebates!

Best Buy may not be launching the Pre exclusively, but it's probably the place to go if you're scouting one come June 6th. Why? Pretty simple, really -- you'll leave the joint with an extra Benjamin in your purse. You see, those who waltz into a Sprint store will be forced to pay $299.99 up front (with a two-year contract) and wait eons for a $100 mail-in rebate to return. Over at Best Buy Mobile, you'll pay $199.99 free and clear, sign your contract and proceed to send us loads of personal hands-on shots. Be honest -- which scenario sounds superior to you?

Palm Eos?

Okay everyone -- grain of salt goggles on? According to PhoneNews, not only is a GSM version of the Palm Eos (AKA Mini Pre, AKA Pixie, AKA Castle) coming to AT&T sometime in the near future, but Sprint will be getting its version of the Centro-like device come Q3 2009. The site claims that 'sources within Sprint' have 'confirmed' the launch window for a phone with specs similar to those on the device we hit yesterday, and that said device is actually in testing right now. Of course, just as we mentioned with the Eos news, this isn't actually confirmed by anyone at Palm (or even close) right now... and you know how much the internet loves a rumor. Still, this would make a lot of sense as Sprint and Palm are all but joined at the hip, and it helps jibe some of the differing reports we / the blogosphere has heard about carriers.

Samsung Instinct ;The Sequel

The Instinct s30 will be almost the same size as its predecessor, but slimmer. It will also have many of the same features, including a touchscreen, GPS,and wireless broadband (EV-DO Rev. A).

Samsung Instinct s30The s30 will offer an improved web-browsing experience thanks to Opera Mini 4.2.

Sprint has tried to strike a balance between consumer and business functions. This model will be able to synchronize with a Microsoft Exchange server for email and calendar data, but will also include the popular games 'Guitar Hero - World Tour' and 'Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader', as well as Sprint TV and Sprint Music.

The Instinct s30 will run a proprietary operating system and support third-party Java applications. It will be more open than its predecessor, giving developers access to core Java APIs (application programming interface), including messaging, multimedia and Bluetooth, which allow developers to take advantage of the phones features. These changes will soon be available for the original in the near future.

Sprint unviels WiMAX expansion cities,devices for 2009,2010

The XOHM label may be gone, but the potency of Sprint's WiMAX network is still kickin' in and around Baltimore. For those itching for wicked fast mobile broadband outside of The Charm City, Sprint has just unveiled a slew of expansion areas that'll get gifted in 2009 and 2010. As for the rest of this year, folks in Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Ft. Worth, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Portland and Seattle can expect Sprint 4G rollouts, while residents of Boston, Houston, New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. can be on the lookout in 2010. In related news, the carrier is also taking this opportunity to reveal that it has 'several new 4G devices planned for 2009 and 2010, including a single-mode 4G data card, embedded laptops, a small-office-home-office broadband modem and a tri-mode phone.

Sprint Offers The LG Rumor 2

Today Sprint announced the LG Rumor2, a revision of the Rumor that was first offered by Sprint in late 2007. The biggest changes compared to the original are an expanded QWERTY keyboard with more rows to make typing easier. It also brings stereo Bluetooth, improves the display to QVGA resolution, and includes an additional battery cover to personalize the phone. It carries over the original's 1.3 megapixel camera. The LG Rumor2 will be available March 15 for $50 after rebates with new two-year agreement.