We don't even have an official release date for the original Palm Pre yet, but already the blogosphere is buzzing about another WebOS-powered smartphone from Palm-a "Mini-Pre," perhaps?

The whispers are coming from TechCrunch, which claims that one of its "better sources" has the skinny on a "second Pre-like device" that is "very far along" in development.

The rumored second Pre ("we're calling it the Mini-Pre") is a "smaller device" than the original-which hasn't even arrived in stores yet, mind you (we're still waiting for a release date from Palm and Sprint)-that will run on Palm's new WebOS platform (same as the Pre) and may or may not feature a physical keypad, according to TechCrunch. The blog also pegs availability in the fall or the "late part of 2009."

Of course, Palm has made no secret of the fact that the Pre, which debuted in January at CES in Las Vegas, will only be the first in a series of WebOS-powered handsets.

Launching a second WebOS phone this year would be an ambitious move for Palm, which as recently as a few weeks ago was still in "polishing mode" with the long-gestating Pre.

Then again, Palm-which has been teetering on the brink for many quarters now-could certainly do with a couple of homers this year, and a bargain version of the Pre might end up as successful as the $99 Centro, which ended up becoming one of Palm's biggest hits.

In any case, the "Mini-Pre" is still deep in rumorville for now. (We've had a lot of hot rumors this week, haven't we?)

Update: The Boy Genius Report has a fuzzy photo of what may or may not be the "Mini-Pre"-check it out and decide for yourself.

Another update: Engadget Mobile has another fuzzy photo, as well as a name ("Eos"), some features (3G HSDPA, 2MP camera, 0.42 inches thick), a carrier (AT&T), and a price ($349, "pre-rebate")-but warns we should "take it all with a grain of salt ... as usual."