Amazon rumored to be designing its own smartphone to challenge the iPhone
Amazon is once again rumored to be in the process of developing its own smartphone to challenge the dominance of Apple's iPhone. According to Bloomberg:
Foxconn International Holdings Ltd. (2038), the Chinese mobile- phone maker, is working with Amazon on the device, said one of the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans are private. Amazon is seeking to complement the smartphone strategy by acquiring patents that cover wireless technology and would help it defend against allegations of infringement, other people with knowledge of the matter said.
The idea of Amazon making its own phone should be no real surprise to anyone. Amazon's business plan is all abut selling digital media; be that books, music or movies. They've already launched the Kindle Fire tablet to compete with Apple's iPad. It's sold at a highly reduced price and Amazon looks to make the money back from digital purchases from its store. If it followed the same format with its alleged iPhone competitor then it could be a very compelling device based on initial cost.
There is no information as to what operating system the device could run although at this stage Google's Android would probably top the list. The Kindle Fire runs a forked and heavily modified version of Android and keeping phone compatible with tablet is the most probable route for this too.
Having said that, Amazon is apparently looking to buy as many patents as it can and has even taken on Matt Gordon, formerly senior director of acquisitions at Intellectual Ventures Management LLC. His role will entail patent acquisitions and investments at Amazon leading to speculation that Amazon may release its own operating system.
Source: Bloomberg
UK editor at iMore, mobile technology lover and air conditioning design engineer.
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Amazon rumored to be designing its own smartphone to challenge the iPhone Samsung Galaxy SIII
Fixed it for ya
"The idea of Amazon making its own phone should be no real surprise to anyone."
That's about all that matters in this story. And I'll not even bother with the troll comment above.
I agree with Pimp Lucious in saying that it is not so much to challange the iPhone as to get a phone into a crowded market. I think it would have made more sense for Amazon to be on a different OS (webOS?) to differentiate itself from other Android tablets/phones. While the nickname "the Amazon phone" will get you some sales, not offering anything beyond what other Android phones offer will eventually water down the name (Look at the Droid line from Motorola). In my opinion, if it is "just another android phone" then they might as well not even release it.
I too think that using WebOS would be a great way to differentiate itself from everyone else. That would also bring forth those who were burned by HP with the whole WebOS debackle (I was one of those) and bring something very different from what everone else is doing. I loved WebOS. The hardware it ran on left much to be desired, but imagine not only a WebOS Phone but a Kindle Fire 2 running WebOS. THAT would be very interesting.
Amazon Blackberry. You heard it here first.
This is so true about andorid. Samsung, Htc and i gues Moto differientaed themselves from the rest of the pack.... eveyrthing else beisdes a few other Corporations are basically unknown or plummiting but if they had went the different route with say web os they may have had a selling point, or even windows phone.
But in the end to the simple people it will be down to an Iphone a Samsung( insert latest model) and everything else.
I still think web OS can be a major player. Too bad HP dropped the ball. Can Amazon pull it off, and do they have the technicians in place to do it?