Rumor Smasher - August 12, 2011

Welcome to Rumor Smasher! Every Friday I attempt to tackle the week's Windows Phone rumors and tell you if they are really going to happen or not. This week Nokia is dominating the rumor mill but the equally as huge Samsung snuck one in before they noticed. Let's smash some rumors.

Nokia heading to AT&T and T-Mobile with affordable devices, Verizon with the high-end?

Our Take: It's definitely odd to us that AT&T and T-Mobile, the original Windows Phone launch partners here in the United States, would be getting the shaft on what will definitely be Microsoft's "hero" device. We sincerely doubt AT&T would miss the chance to get their hands on Nokia's high end Windows Phone. When it comes to T-Mobile it's a little more tricky -- they only officially support the HTC HD7 and have the Venue Pro coasting on their airwaves. But they do have pretty good relations with Nokia because they are the only carrier in the US that have still offered new Nokia Symbian devices each year.

When it comes to Verizon, we could definitely see it happen. Verizon has enough cash to throw around to secure pretty much any high end device they want to. But they were the very last carrier to offer a Windows Phone and many agreed at that point the Trophy wasn't worth it. Maybe Verizon is looking to get on the good side burned WP7 fans? They better be! The last part of the rumor is that the Sea Ray won't come to the US. At first we didn't believe it, but with the N9 skipping a lot of major countries (including the US) we think there's more to this than we thought. You can stay optimistic if you like, but Nokia is trying to be "carrier-friendly" so don't expect the Sea Ray to look quite the same when it launches here.

Will it Happen?: Carrier Stuff - Maybe / Sea Ray skipping US - Yes.

Nokia devices leaked in new video?

Our Take: Earlier this week we saw yet another leak from Nokia's camp as a very official-looking video. In the video we got our first look at a new, super-slim device running Windows Phone that bears a striking resemblance to the slick Samsung Focus. The device also has an interesting 'chin' beneath the hardware keys that matches the color of the back of the phone. So is this for real? Well we're finding it hard to think so. We definitely think the video itself is for real and it is from somewhere within Nokia. But when it comes to the new device, we think it's nothing more than a concept just like the other renders we've seen. Trust us, we'd love to see this device come out but we just don't think it's gonna happen.

Will it Happen?: Nope

Omnia W is the successor to the Omnia 7, certainly isn't pathetic

Our Take: Everyone is looking forward to a shiny new device from Samsung this Fall, and many want to see a phone ditch the plasticky feel of the Focus and opt for something more along the lines of the Omnia 7. With that came word of an Omnia W, a potential followup to the aforementioned launch device that brings along a 1 GHz CPU, 512 MB of RAM, 3.7-inch display, and a 5 megapixel camera. But Samsung recently came out to say the info that came with the device leak was "not accurate". Does that mean the Omnia W doesn't exist? Heck no! It just means that the details we received about the device may not be real. So don't be surprised if Samsung announces something very similar to the Omnia W.

Will it Happen?: Maybe

Mango launching September 1st, updates to begin before hardware?

Our Take: If Joe Belfiore himself says it's "just a rumor", then it's probably just a rumor. It seems too soon to us anyway.

Will it Happen?: Nope

Compal shipping 2 million Windows Phones to Nokia in September, release set for October

Our Take: The source of the rumor was a former IDG News journalist based out of Taiwan? Check. Nokia World is in October? Check. Nokia loves to launch new devices at Nokia World? Check. Well we think that just about does it for this one.

Will it Happen?: Duh.