(AFP PHOTO / JUNG YEON-JE) Samsung puts lid on capital expenditure 8-inch Samsung tablet to debut in February Samsung, Apple seen pulling ahead in smartphone race: poll Galaxy tablets don't infringe Apple design: Dutch court Samsung announces 100 million Galaxy S sales

The latest smartphone rumour suggests that Samsung is gearing up to launch a 5.8-inch device based on its Galaxy Player 5.8, currently only on sale in South Korea.

The rumour, first published on SamMobile, claims that unlike the Galaxy Player, the device will be a fully-functioning Android smartphone with dual SIM support and an SD slot for memory expansion. If the rumors are true the handset, currently codenamed the Galaxy "Fonbelt" will have a bigger screen than the Galaxy Note II phablet and will be unveiled at the World Mobile Congress in Barcelona in February.

This is the third Samsung rumour in as many days and follows reports that the company also intends to debut an 8-inch tablet and a replacement for its flagship Galaxy SIII -- imaginatively-named Galaxy SIV -- at the same event.