Palm have apparently confirmed that they will be making an announcement next week regarding the UK version of the Palm Pre.  The news, says T3, will include which network has won exclusivity for the GSM handset in the UK, when exactly it will be available, and at what price.

Front-runners in the carrier contest have always been Vodafone and O2.  Palm used the former for its demo GSM handsets while at Mobile World Congress back in February, but more recently O2 – who also exclusively carry the iPhone in the UK – were tipped to have clinched the deal.

There’s been at least one reported sighting of a Palm Pre in the UK, with what’s believed to be a field-tester playing with his smartphone on the London Tube earlier this week.  Given the competitive nature of the UK smartphone market, it’s entirely likely that we’ll see the Pre available free on certain high-cost monthly tariffs.