According to a sneaky Verizon Wireless employee, the company is preparing to train its staff on Palm and webOS. Why is this significant? It means that Verizon Wireless will likely be offering a webOS-based Palm device in the very near future.Verizon executives have already indicated that the nation's largest network operator will be offering a device "like the Palm Pre" at some point. Most indications have pointed to an early launch in 2010, and this latest development lends more weight to that assumption.

According to a leaked internal document, Verizon Wireless is preparing to train its employees on how to sell Palm and webOS devices. Says the slide, "Why Palm? What is webOS?: Online Training: This 20-minute online course re-introduces Palm and describes their new webOS platform."

The dates the course is being offered spans December 15 to January 4. That indicates that the launch of this device will be soon after January 4. Palm has scheduled a press conference during the Consumer Electronics Show, which kicks off that same week in Las Vegas.

What makes things more interesting is the fact that the FCC just recently approved a new version of the Palm Pixi. The Pixi went on sale through Sprint on November 15. One feature it doesn't include is Wi-Fi. The new version just approved does bundle in WI-Fi. Could this be the device that Verizon is launching?

At this point, there are three possibilities: 1. Verzion will launch the Pixi; 2. Verizon will launch the Pre; or 3. Verizon will launch something completely new. Take your pick. My guess is we'll know for sure after Palm's press conference, which is scheduled for January 7.

[Via PhoneArena]