The difficulty is that the Pre is a CDMA 1x-EVDO handset, which is really only compatible on a few networks (Verizon, Sprint, and a few other regional carriers)

The difficulty is that the Pre is a CDMA 1x-EVDO handset, which is really only compatible on a few networks (Verizon, Sprint, and a few other regional carriers). Unless Palm has a super-secret GSM one waiting in the wings, it could take some time for the Pre to filter over to other networks.