Amazon Jumps into the Smartphone Market
Amazon jumped into the hardware-making business in 2007 with the Kindle. The company has since released several different tablet models, and it’s been rumored for quite some time that the online mega-retailer would be offering their own smartphone at some point.
According to industry sources, though, Amazon is ready to take its chances with a budget-friendly Kindle phone.
Last July, the Wall Street Journal reported that Amazon was testing its own smartphone with a 4 to 5-inch screen. Taiwanese Economic News revived the old rumor, saying that Amazon has awarded the phone’s contract to Foxconn, the same company responsible for manufacturing the iPhone.
The source says that the Kindle phone will retail for US$100-200 (presumably off-contract), with Amazon supposedly set to announce the phone in the second or third quarter of 2013.
If the sources have their information straight, then Amazon may be entering the market cautiously. The initial order is allegedly for a mere five million units: small potatoes for a company with Amazon’s following. It’s also possible that the company will place more orders before the device launches.
Source: Taiwan Economic News