There are some strong rumors about it.

Links:

http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/30/sony-placing-ps3-slim-manufacturing-orders-for-delivery-in-july/

http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/30/sony-patents-new-cell-based-ps2-emulator/

Slim next month?
I smell huge amounts of bullshit on that one.

no way, sony can't do that.

That sounds a little too soon.

I call bullshit.

Edit: 800th post!

If its to be released next month then surely they wouldve announced the Slim PS3 at E3. Why would Sony announce the new PSP Go thats months farther and not this?

i think the slim will come this year but in sept-november and it will be anounce in tgs

I'd bet IF slim happened it wouldn't be here until price drop in August/September. About same time 360 gets another round as well.

Also, when we'll see a Black Wii and solely depending on affect of the combined price drops from PS360, MAYBE $50 off Wii in November.

As for PS2 BC, idk. I would think bc would have always stayed in PS3. It would definitely be a good gain for them to do so as that might encourage those still with only PS2's to spend the $300-$400 on a PS3. Probably not, really as those willing to spend that much probably already own Wii360's.

Because PSPGo won't really hinder PSP3000's sales, whereas a PS3slim would completely kill off PS3's current sales. It won't be announced until Sony has cut down current stock to levels that taking a clearence sale price on them won't be too much of a loss.

I actually went to read that original article in that Taiwanese news site. This is a business-related news focusing on the Taiwanese computer manufacturers' profits, has nothing to go with gaming industry.

It seems to be reliable that two major Taiwanese companies (Foxconn and Pegatron) obtained 50-50 orders from Sony to assembly the next version of PS3.

However, the article also says:
this maybe the "last minor revision" of PS3 before the SCEI rolling out the "next gen console" next year to compete with Microsoft's Xbox360 and Nintendo's Wii. Then the article went on and on about the motion controller Sony showed at E3, so I assume that the reporter didn't know Sony's motion controller will be an add-on.

Anyway, the article mentioned both companies will start shipping PS3 in July, which makes me believe Sony will dry up the current PS3 model and stock up the Slim model for the holiday season and FFXIII launch in Japan. I expect new model and price cut announcement somewhere around TGS.