Online bookseller Amazon has denied that it is planning to release a free smartphone. Former Wall Street Journal reporters Jessica Lessin wrote in their bog that the company wants the phone to be free whether or not people sign up for a wireless plan.

Lessin said that her deep throats told her that Amazon was believed to be working out the details and much will depend on whether Amazon can work out financial arrangements with hardware partners. It's unclear when the product would launch, but Lessin—who recently launched a new, as-yet unnamed tech blog—say.

However it all looks like Lessin’s initial move into research journalism might have failed. Amazon, which refused to comment initially, went so far as issuing a denial. The statement is the first time that Amazon has said it will not offer a phone this year, addressing long-running reports it has been working on one.