Friday Evening Links > Sprint has Palm Pre exclusive thru end of 2009

Sprint Nextel Corp.'s (S) exclusivity agreement with Palm Inc. (PALM) and its Pre smartphone runs through the year, according to a Sprint spokesman.

"We have the Pre through 2009," said spokesman James Fisher.

Verizon Wireless Chief Executive Lowell McAdam told analysts at an investor conference that over the "next six months or so," the carrier would be getting the Pre and a "cousin" device. The disclosure surprised industry watchers, although it could fit Sprint's timeline if McAdam meant six months from the Pre's June 6 launch date.