Anatomy of a rumor: Wal-Mart’s $99 iPhone

The blogs and business wires were buzzing Monday morning with two juicy iPhone rumors: 1) That Wal-Mart would begin selling iPhones three days after Christmas and 2) That a low-end model would sell for $99.

The first, as we reported nearly three weeks ago, is true. (See Wal-Mart’s post-Christmas iPhone sale.)

The second, as near as anyone can tell, is almost certainly not true – although it seems to have taken on a life of its own, most prominently in a Bloomberg.com report published Sunday evening.

On Monday morning, MacRumors reported that, based on leaked Wal-Mart training and advertising material, the $99 iPhone rumor was “unlikely.” MacBlogz went further: “Based on every piece of information we’ve heard, and direct information inside AT&T, this is not happening.” More.......