Based on some photos and information leaked to the blog PreCentral, HP is preparing to launch the first webOS PDA smartphone that ditches the physical keyboard in favor of a touchscreen-only form. The upcoming Pre 3 world phone is rumored to be launching on the Verizon Wireless network first. Carrier partnerships, marketing and great design will all be key aspects in making webOS a contender in the smartphone market.
The leaked photos show a sleek design that has a front-facing camera and a 480 x 800 screen resolution. Since HP purchased Palm in 2010, the company has continued to pursue a hybrid theme where it offered devices with both a physical and touchscreen keyboard, so this new model is a departure from the hybrid niche for them. The device will be a dual-mode GSM/CDMA world phone that will follow the Pre 2 to Verizon.