Forget the entry levl smart phone market.  Apple will own this too.  This pricing probably just killed the Palm Pre and the company I am afraid.  There are many reasons for this, the web only platform (yet to be released) like Android’s is limiting, virtual machine only.   Native apps within a rich OO framework that supports the de facto standard for low level coding leads to rich/fast innovation.  So if you believe rich/innovative apps will make or break the next gen of handhelds…Pre is  handicapped.  So is Android.   (What the heck is MS doing? Trying to stay PC…)

So, the only chance was Pre’s awesome U/I and design would make it an awesome consumer (non early adopter) choice as a great entry level smart phone …but a $99 iPhone 3G kills this.

There is a snowball’s chance in Pre’s hell however, given that AT&T is still the only provider for the iPhone, but I don’t think the entry level market cares.

Apple – iPhone – Mobile phone, iPod, and Internet device..