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Amazon Smartphone in the Works? (Update)

By Wong Casandra - on 11 Jul 2012, 4:43pm

Amazon Smartphone in the Works? (Update)

Source: The Verge

*Update: Quoting its sources, The Wall Street Journal claims that the Amazon smartphone is undergoing testing with Asian suppliers at the moment and may go into production "late this year or early next year." The smartphone is said to have a screen of "between four to five inches."

Right after dipping into its toes into the tablet scene, Amazon is now said to be developing a smartphone that "would vie with Apple's iPhone and handheld devices that run Google’s Android operating system", according to Bloomberg. Its unidentified sources have mentioned that Foxconn, the infamous Chinese mobile-phone maker, is currently working with Amazon on the device. However, no indication so as to when the phone will make a formal appearance but we reckon it wouldn't be too far in the future, given that the competition is heating up with the recent developments with regards to the major players, Apple, Microsoft, Google and RIM.

The Verge - "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. While Amazon's previous foray into manufacturing its own mobile hardware, the Kindle Fire tablet, technically ran Android, its software was so heavily modified that many have speculated that the company could apply the same formula to the mobile space."

Amazon has an added edge when it comes to providing unique content as it is also running its own Appstore for Android on its Kindle Fire. This combined with its vast selection of multimedia including movies, books and music, will make for an excellent smartphone ecosystem. So as to whether these rumors stand true, only time will tell. Nonetheless, this comes shortly after allegations that Amazon has been readying not one but two Kindle Fire tablets and the next-gen 7-inch Kindle Fire would make its appearance in August.

Source: Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal via The Verge (1) (2)

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