Sony starts to find its cool again and announces today at the TGS 2006 that the lower-end Sony Playstation 3 with 20GB HDD will have the HDMI port.

Sony argues that since the announcement at the E3 2005 the market for HDTVs accelerated faster than expected and that the market demands HDMI support - I agree, great move Sony!
Additionally Sony sets a lower price for the 20GB Sony PS3 in Japan with 49,980 Yen incl. tax (~$429). The original set price for the 20GB Playstation 3 in Japan was 62,790 Yen (~$539). This is a substancial price-cut of $110. Will be interesting how that PS3 price-cut will translate in the United States. Besides HDMI there are still some small difference of the 20GB and 60GB Sony PS3 that remain. The 60GB Sony PS3 has built-in Wi-Fi and a memory stick reader. The 20GB PS3 does not have these features.
More details in this Sony press-release (Japanese).

Info for European and Australians: The Japanese Sony PS3 Pre-Order of the 20GB Sony PS3 or the 60GB Sony PS3 has stopped on Audio Cubes due to high demand. They will open it again, once they secured more inventory.