So when the Bluetooth SIG leaks a new handset, it's a leak of epically tiny proportions. Instead of the wealth of test reports we have the distinct pleasure of poring over when we get a juicy device via the FCC, the good ol' SIG gives us a single table of mostly meaningless information -- and that's in a best-case scenario. The worst case is where we get a model name or codename, geographic availability, and manufacturer name, and that's it. Such is the case with the HTC Rose, a phone we've never heard of before, and for all we know, may never hear about again. Our wild imaginations can easily concoct amazing Android-powered superphones with WVGA displays, 8-megapixel autofocus cameras, and 32GB of ROM until the cows come home, but this could just as easily be an EDGE-only Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard sleeper with all the design inspiration of an '82 Ford Escort. Or, you know, more likely something in between.

[Via Cellpassion]

We knew it was just a matter of time before the trickle of KRZR variants coming out of Moto turned into a flood; well, it looks like we'd best be getting to higher ground. We turned up these four models of the GSM-based K1, possibly called "Abstract" and "Rose" (seems logical, right?) in your choice of black or blue. We're not sure where these things are destined or when they'll be heading there, but we also found us some screen caps of a K1 running T-Mobile (check a few after the break) -- and considering that T-Mobile is loving it some fancy Motos lately... well, we'll just let y'all draw your own conclusions.

Anyone else notice that most of the fanfare surrounding the concept of the almost-free unsubsidized handset has been largely restricted to the GSM camp? Sure, we have occasional CDMA examples like Kyocera's K122 and K132 -- but with all due respect to Kyocera, cooler looking GSM goodies like the MOTOFONE have been generating just a bit more buzz. No worries, though; a handful of scrappy Korean startups are looking to correct the imbalance, committing to deliver $30 handsets utilizing CDMA2000 1x radios (no EV-DO, we're guessing) to India starting in December of this year with other Southeast Asian countries hopping on the bandwagon in '07. According to Rose Telecom, one of the startups involved in the initiative, the phones should take another dive to the $20 mark in 2008. We can almost sense American prepaid MVNOs expressing interest already.

Update: A resourceful reader has pointed out that Motorola's also offering a CDMA variant of the MOTOFONE, which clearly raises the bar for style in the CDMA emerging markets segment. The Korean folks still look to have a slight edge on pricing here -- but with Motorola having suggested that we'll be seeing $15 handsets by '08, they may not for long. [Thanks, Rich]