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Amazon Planning to Take on Apple in Smartphone Market

Friday July 6, 2012 6:48 am PDT by Eric Slivka
Bloomberg reports that Amazon is currently working with Foxconn on a new smartphone product, one that would compete head-to-head with the iPhone and Android devices.
A smartphone would give Amazon a wider range of low-priced hardware devices that bolster its strategy of making money from digital books, songs and movies. It would help Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos -- who made a foray into tablets with the Kindle Fire -- carve out a slice of the market for advanced wireless handsets.
Amazon is also said to be looking to acquire a portfolio of wireless technology patents that would help it stand up to competitors in the market.

Amazon has already generated a considerable amount of interest with its Kindle Fire tablet, a heavily-customized Android device launched late last year. By adding a smartphone to the mix, Amazon would have mobile devices in several different form factors to help spur consumption of the company's extensive library of digital content.

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miles01110
89 months ago
Amazon should stick to two things on the consumer side: eBooks and selling other people's stuff.
Rating: 40 Votes
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MacDawg
89 months ago

One word: Competition, my dear friends, competition.

Always a good thing.:apple:


It has to be a viable alternative in order to be considered healthy competition
That remains to be seen
Rating: 17 Votes
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MarkNY
89 months ago
Amazon could acquire RIM with spare change.
Rating: 16 Votes
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Mad Mac Maniac
89 months ago
I don't see this gaining any traction. But an interesting move none-the-less

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Please, please, please use Android.... we don't need any more new OS for phones right now.


of course they will use android. A heavily modded version like their Fire
Rating: 13 Votes
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emvath
89 months ago
I love my Kindle Fire, but it isn't even close to stable enough for me to consider using the software (similar at least) in my phone.
Rating: 11 Votes
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taltal
89 months ago
As a matter of fact, I don't think there will be such a thing as a Smartphone Market in a few years. There will be smaller or larger tablets equipped with 4G/LTE internet and Voice over IP numbers.

Phone is going to be just one of several communication apps on the device.
Rating: 11 Votes
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CodeBreaker
89 months ago
This would had been a good move some 4 years back...
Rating: 11 Votes
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MacDawg
89 months ago
Not something I would be remotely interested in, but I'm sure there would be some who would find it compelling
Rating: 8 Votes
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LachlanH
89 months ago
Just what we need, more android fragmentation.
Rating: 8 Votes
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Oletros
89 months ago

Google is going to be pissed.


Why?
Rating: 7 Votes

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