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(Credit: Screenshot: Bonnie Cha/CNET) On Thursday, Palm and Sprint hosted a Webcast to spotlight the Palm Pre and what makes it different than any other smartphone on the market. Watch the event unfold here. 10:52 a.m. PDT: We're about 7 minutes away from the start. I'm logged in and jamming to some ridiculous music. Scheduled speakers include David Owens, director of consumer acquisition for Sprint and Matt Crowley, product line manager for Palm. 10:58 a.m.: I see some of you are asking where you can watch the Webcast. According my Palm contact, this is an invite-only event for the media so it won't be broadcast to all. However, a video of the Webcast should be available from Sprint at some point, though a specific date wasn't given. Two minute countdown! 11:00 a.m.: Here we go. 11:01 a.m.: Buzz kill: No information about pricing and date at this time. 11:02 a.m.: Mark Elliot from Sprint introducing the speakers. Discussing the longstanding relationship between Palm and Sprint. Sprint was first carrier to launch Treo 300, Treo 700p and Centro. So the relationship is a no-brainer. 11:02 a.m.: Also chose Sprint for it's 3G network. Good for the Pre's multitasking. 11:05 a.m.: Now touting Sprint's Simply Everything Plan: $99.99 unlimited domestic voice, data, and text messaging. Sprint will not have all of its plan available for the Pre. They will offer Individual, Family, and Business. 11:07 a.m.: David Owens: Return rate of smartphones is 20 percent. Sprint hopes its Ready Now service, which shows customers how to use their device, will reduce this number. 11:10 a.m.: Showing off the Palm Pre now and its design features. Nothing we haven't seen though. A 3.1-inch display, gesture area. Standard 3.5mm headphone jack and silent ringer switch on top. User-replaceable battery. MicroUSB port for high-speed 2.0. 11:14 a.m.: Within messaging application, you can pick up an instant messaging conversation into a text conversation. You can view Google, Yahoo, and various e-mails all in one view or separate views. 11:15 a.m.: "Oh, did I mention the slide-out QWERTY keyboard?" Matt Crowley. So far this Webcast is underwhelming. Nothing we haven't seen anything before. Show me something new, Palm. 11:20 a.m.: Showing off the Touchstone accessory. Knows when it's on Touchstone and will automatically launch the speakerphone when a call comes in. 11:21 a.m.: That's it for the presentation. Really? That's it? 11:22 a.m.: Q&A time. Q:Will all of Sprint's services be available on the Pre. A:Some of them will be available. NFL, Nascar, Navigation. Music will be a little different but most Sprint apps will be available on the Pre. Q: Will the center button light up as it did in CES.A:Yes. Shows different functions. Q: Is Pre still on target for first half of 2009.A: Yes. Will Pre support Flash? A: Referenced it partnership with Adobe but skirted around the question about whether the Pre specifically. Q: Will Touchstone be available from Sprint.A:Absolutely. Available at launch. Bonnie Cha is a senior editor for CNET, covering smartphones and GPS. When she's not testing the latest gadgets, you can find her chasing after her crazy lab or surfing in the chilly waters of Northern California. E-mail Bonnie. Topics: Phones, PDAs Tags: Palm Pre, smartphones Share: Digg Del.icio.us Reddit cnet_crave854:http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10194708-1.html Yahoo! Buzz Recent posts from Crave Inside CNET Labs 33.5: Mother forgive me Kyocera Jax appear on Virgin Mobile site Gameloft goes west. Apple ready for third generation of iPhone Headphones for under 25 smackaroos Sprint confirms the LG Rumor 2 Resident Evil 5 to get online gameplay with Versus Stop complaining about the new iPod Shuffle Related From CNET A touching update to Dell’s all-in-one desktop Fusion-io touts ’fastest’ solid-state drive Blink to control your iPod From around the web Another stage for American Idols--the iP... CNET News Is Microsoft Office worth its weight in ... More related postspowered by Sphere Add a Comment (Log in or register) 30 comments by EnVyMoNtOyA March 12, 2009 9:20 AM PDT omg! the suspense is killing me!!!