Well, hopefully this is true and they are about to try and get somecompetition in for Airbus. The great advantage Boeing has with their modified 747 compared with the A380 is that it takes a relatively short time to build and not too expensive. Whereas Airbus is having to punp $8billion into developing it and then they will probably have problems which Boeing may not have because of their experience of the 747.
It should be very interesting, though, if the American majors start getting involved to buy some of these new 747s.....which I'm sure they will! Even if just the America's do, it will give Boeing at least 50 aircraft orders over, for example, American, United and Delta, not to mention Northwest etc.
Cheers