We already know the HTC One (M8) hit the retail market March 25 with Verizon Wireless getting first crack at it. We also know the 5 inch smartphone has gotten rave reviews for its aluminum-clad body and software improvements.

That's why the buzz about Taiwan's HTC Corporation, the Number 3 smartphone maker, coming out with a mini me version allegedly called the "HTC One (M8) Mini" got the attention of a lot of people. And the spate of leaks pointed to a Mini with a 4.5 inch display but with only one camera. Rumored release date for this model is May.

Prolific leaker @Evleaks announced in a terse tweet Monday that "HTC One M8 mini going to Verizon."

What all this speculation seems to agree on is that Verizon, the largest mobile network operator in the USA, will again be first to market with the HTC One (M8) Mini. It could be that Big Red won't be alone in offering the mini this time, however.

AT&T could get some of the action this time around. AT&T was the exclusive carrier for the HTC One Mini in 2013.

Widespread speculation about the alleged smaller version of the HTC One M8 points to a machine with a screen size of 4.5 inches and will run will employ the same Android 4.4 KitKat and Sense universal interface 6.0 software combination as the HTC One.

Other leaked key specs for the mini me HTC One M8 include a 1.7 GHz snapdragon quadcore processor; 1 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage. Disappointingly, the mini is said to have only one camera, this on its backside. Resolution for the 13 megapixel cam will probably be 1280 x 720. There's no news if there'll be a microSD card slot on the Mini.

The Mini will probably go on sale for $99 on contract, the same price as the HTC One Mini on AT&T. A $200 contract price for the Mini (similar to the HTC One) is very probable.