Amazon to Join the Smartphone Game

· by · Rumor

Online retailer Amazon.com is apparently working on its own Android-based smartphone designed to compete with Apple’s popular iPhone. Sources claim that Foxconn, the same company that manufactures the iPhone for Apple, is working with Amazon to get the new smartphone to market.

Amazon said to be designing its own smartphoneAmazon said to be designing its own smartphone

News of Amazon’s plans comes courtesy of unnamed sources tipping off Bloomberg. Other unnamed sources claim Amazon has been working to buy up patents to defend itself should competitors like Apple threaten litigation over patent infringement.

Much like the Kindle product line, including the Kindle Fire, a smartphone could be a useful tool for Amazon to coax more content purchases out of its customers. The Kindle Fire, for example, gives users easy access to book, movie and music purchases from Amazon’s online media store.

There isn’t any word on when Amazon might release its rumored smartphone, and the company isn’t offering up any comments to confirm or deny the reports.

[Some images courtesy Shutterstock]

Jeff Gamet

Jeff Gamet

Jeff is the Mac Observer's Managing Editor, and co-host of the Apple Context Machine podcast. He is the author of "The Designer's Guide to Mac OS X" from Peachpit Press, and writes for several design-related publications. Jeff has presented at events such as Macworld Expo, the RSA Conference, and the Mac Computer Expo. In all his spare time, he also co-hosts the We Have Communicators podcast, and makes guest appearances on several other podcasts, too. Jeff dreams in HD.

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