During the Sprint webcast today, the carrier was asked whether all of their existing applications would be available on the Palm Pre.  According to Sprint, most of the existing software will be on the Pre, such as the exclusive NFL and NASCAR apps, together with navigation.  Music will “be done differently on the Pre” although no details were given on exactly how, but generally the software would be the same as seen on other Sprint handsets.

Palm’s representative Matt Crowley also confirmed that the Pre would have an App Store, supporting over-the-air installs.  However they’re holding details back to reveal later.  When asked about whether the Pre would support Flash from launch, the panel repeated their MWC09 confirmation that webOS would support it by the end of 2009.  As for gaming, the Pre will support “casual gaming” such as Sudoku, and be generally web-centric; according to Crowley, it’s “not going to be about 3D gaming for the 1.0 version of webOS.”

Another question related to the Cards GUI system, whereby individual Pre apps are represented as dynamically-updated cards, and specifically how many could be kept open at a time.  According to Palm, the number is dynamic and depends on memory and, more importantly, how much memory each individual app us using.  Large webpages, for instance, will take up more than a contacts page.

As for the hardware, the question of why Palm chose to limit storage to the integrated 8GB was raised: Crowley suggested that this was a design decision, and that they would not be able to make the handset as compact as it is if a memory card needed to be accommodated.  The status lights were also discussed; there are three main LEDs on the front, all in the lower gesture area.  One on either side lights up when the gesture area is touched, and the button illuminates when pressed.  It doesn’t look as though this light also acts as a status indicator, showing new messages, etc.

Palm and Sprint demonstrated the Touchstone inductive charger, and confirmed that it would be available from Sprint at launch.  However no pricing was given.  The standard charger supplied plugs into the microUSB port on the side of the Pre.  Also available from launch is ReadyNow, Sprint’s “personal trainer” program which will offer personalized training for new Palm Pre owners.  This is being sold as both a valuable offer to consumers wanting to get the most out of their new smartphone, but also a way for Sprint to reduce the handset return rate and promote word-of-mouth about the network.

Palm’s representative was asked whether the company planned on continuing development for Windows Mobile.  According to both Crowley and the Sprint representatives, there’s space for both Windows Mobile and webOS in the smartphone ecosystem; in fact, the Palm Treo Pro launches on Sprint this coming weekend.  Another question asked whether Palm plan on licensing webOS; as of right now, there are no plans for licensing to third-parties.

Finally, Sprint clarified which plans would be available to Palm Pre owners.  Basically, they’re strongly pushing unlimited data plans: their Everything Messaging 450 plan won’t be eligible, but the Everything Data 450 plan (at $69.99) will.  It’s possible, from the sound of the webcast, to pick up the Pre without unlimited data, but it’s going to take some arguing at the point of sale.  Meanwhile enterprise customers will be able to pool their minutes.

Oh, and the name?  Palm wanted to make the phone sound “anticipatory”.