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Gadgets Bloomberg: Amazon to Release Its Own Smartphone in November
Tiffany Kaiser - July 6, 2012 9:09 AM

17 comment(s) - last by ascian5.. on Jul 9 at 9:58 AM

(Source: tech2.in.com)

Amazon is working with Foxconn International Holdings Ltd. to make the new device

Amazon is reportedly looking to release a smartphone of its own as early as November of this year. Having a smartphone could further Amazon's efforts to push its digital songs, books and movies as well as other Amazon-related services.

According to Bloomberg, Amazon is working with Foxconn International Holdings Ltd. to make the new device. Amazon also plans to protect itself with wireless technology patents that will keep predators like Apple away once it enters the smartphone arena.

In fact, Amazon hired Matt Gordon recently, who is the former director of acquisitions at Intellectual Ventures Management LLC. This company currently owns over 35,000 intellectual property assets, and Gordon will serve as the general manager for patent acquisitions at Amazon.

Building a protective fort of patents is a smart move, considering Apple and Samsung recently flung patent infringement lawsuits back and forth over wireless technologies and gadgets. The two fought for months, attempting to ban the other's devices such as Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1, which Apple has succeeded in doing so in Germany and the U.S. Both companies eventually tried to reach an agreement, but instead committed to war on one another.

Amazon dipped into the mobile realm last year when it released its first tablet, the Kindle Fire, in November 2011. The 7-inch, $199 tablet was a hit during the holiday season, moving 4.7 million units in Q4 2011. This was nearly one-third of what Apple's iPad accomplished during that same period, which was 15.4 million units.

Amazon is looking to release a new Kindle Fire as soon as this month, which will include new features like external volume controls and a camera. The new smartphone is due in November.

Source: Bloomberg

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Blah

By Motoman on 7/6/2012 1:28:26 PM , Rating: 3

A phone is a phone is a phone. They all do the same things. There is effectively only a point of differentiation...whether or not it has a physical keyboard. Otherwise...for all intents and purposes, they're all the same. Throw them all in a bucket and pull one out randomly and your life will be the same as if you'd pulled out any other one.

I see no possible value or compelling reason to get an Amazon phone. Or a Facebook phone. Everything you can do on Amazon and/or FB you can already do on any phone on the planet. You reckon Amazon will stop letting people use non-Amazon phones to do stuff on Amazon? Nope. Will FB disallow access to FB if you don't have a FB phone? Nope. Will they all be essentially the same as all the other phones on the market, except for a logo and an icon or two? Yup.

Just. Stop. It.

RE: Blah

By Souka on 7/6/2012 4:33:55 PM , Rating: 2

My neighbor is buying a Kindle Fire next month as a gift for his wife.

I asked him why not buy the Google Nexus 7

His response "because she'll want to read books on it with Kindle"

I have a hunch he'll replace his wife's iPhone4 for a Amazon phone next.... just a hunch.

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RE: Blah

By Spuke on 7/6/2012 5:06:53 PM , Rating: 2

Kindle app. Done.

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RE: Blah

By MGSsancho on 7/6/2012 7:44:11 PM , Rating: 3

E-ink displays are for reading. If the Misses wishes to use a device primary for reading then an e-ink display with trump any other display technology. The kindle app does not remedy this.

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RE: Blah

By Camikazi on 7/7/2012 4:10:52 PM , Rating: 2

Kindle Fire does not have an e-ink display :P if you are getting the Fire might as well just go for the Nexus, it's a better tablet.

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RE: Blah

By TakinYourPoints on 7/9/2012 1:09:09 AM , Rating: 2

Certainly, but having their own hardware has certain advantages.

The Amazon app and media stores would be front and center, no question. It also allows for Amazon to focus on total vertical integration. This top-to-bottom control is one reason why the Fire is the only Android based tablet to sell any numbers worth talking about. They could do very well with a phone, especially for the many Android users who felt burned by 2.2 and 2.3. It may be another alternative for them over going to iOS or WP.

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RE: Blah

By slunkius on 7/9/2012 1:12:18 AM , Rating: 2

How did you miss his point entirely?

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RE: Blah

By ShaolinSoccer on 7/6/2012 11:50:05 PM , Rating: 2

quote:
A phone is a phone is a phone. They all do the same things.

I disagree. They are small PC's with cellular support. Though, my dream "phone" would be something like the Sony Xperia Play just the way it is except with Tegra 3, Android 4.1, a very nice camera that can record clearly in 1080p even in the dark, a screen that can play that 1080p, DLNA and my choice of wireless carrier. Having it available on only Verizon and AT&T is what stopped me from buying it. I mean, if we're going to be downloading huge Playstation games, they could've at least let us use a carrier that had true unlimited data like Sprint and T-Mobile. I realize we're supposed to use the internet for that but some of us aren't at our home PC's everyday...

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RE: Blah

By ascian5 on 7/9/2012 9:58:51 AM , Rating: 2

I can't watch Amazon Instant Video on my iPhone.

While I agree with your intent, this would be a plus for my family.

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drop in the ocean

By Nortel on 7/6/12, Rating: -1

RE: drop in the ocean

By Newspapercrane on 7/6/2012 11:51:42 AM , Rating: 5

Wow... the fanboys are already crying infringement and we don't even know for sure what it looks like, or what operating system it's going to run.

Amazon's strategy is different than Apple or Samsung with their products. They're not trying to push the envelope technologically. They're trying to introduce price competition into the tablet market. The Kindle fire wasn't even close to the best piece of hardware on the market when it came out, but it was the performance you could get at that price point.

I wouldn't be surprised to see this phone debut for free with a 2 year contract. The idea is that if you have their device in your hands, you'll buy their media. That's the point of the KF, and that'll be the point of this phone.

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RE: drop in the ocean

By bupkus on 7/6/2012 1:14:22 PM , Rating: 2

They sure have become whiny.

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RE: drop in the ocean

By bupkus on 7/6/2012 1:17:10 PM , Rating: 2

Any shape other than a sphere and it's infringement.

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RE: drop in the ocean

By Motoman on 7/6/2012 1:47:58 PM , Rating: 3

Too late. I just got a patent for "things that vaguely look sperical, in a roundish sort of way."

All your balls are belong to me now.

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RE: drop in the ocean

By retrospooty on 7/7/2012 2:15:27 PM , Rating: 2

"Any shape other than a sphere and it's infringement."

Don't forget color. Apple invented black, and white and brushed aluminum. We can only have rainbow colored phones in the future.

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RE: drop in the ocean

By wifiwolf on 7/6/2012 6:55:20 PM , Rating: 2

kindle using android, what you expect this one to use?
I can only welcome amazon since it's the one player in this market that can change the game. Not that it will take 1st or 2nd place, but can bring some sense to the patent wars.

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