Gold said he was surprised by how many people are paying that much a month for service during a recession, whether the device is a smartphone or not. "I wasn't sure how many people would stay with the iPhone monthly costs after the honeymoon period, but it seems very little drop-off has occurred. So I am sure the Pre will not be any different."

Gartner Inc. analyst Ken Dulaney said the $70 starting price for voice and data service on the Pre "seems to be OK." Gartner today reported that smartphone sales globally in the first quarter compared to the same period in 2008.

The Pre is being sold exclusively by Sprint starting June 6 with a price tag of $200 after a $100 rebate, but it must be purchased with a two-year subscription. A Sprint on the required subscription plans refers only to the Everything Data plan and Business Essential with Messaging and Data plan, but a Sprint spokesman said there are five individual and family plans as well as several business plans. The individual plans start at $70 a month and go to $100 a month, but the family and business plans can be much higher.

Accoring to Sprint's Web site, the Everything Data Plan (with 450 anytime minutes) is $70 a month, the 900-minute Everything Data Plan is $90 a month, and the has unlimited voice minutes and unlimited data for $100 a month.

The two plans are 1,500 and 3,000 anytime minutes for $100 and $150 each per month, but they can be used by two phones.