News of Amazon reportedly developing its own smartphone begs a big question: Just which wireless carrier would the massive e-tailer, who's now making set-top boxes and drones, choose for its momentous market entrance?
We all know picking the right carrier is paramount to grabbing consumer base. Apple, way way back, went with an exclusive deal with AT&T that kept Verizon out of the lucrative iPhone market for years. It was the best of times for AT&T, and ultimately also good times for Verizon when it finally got the iPhone and Apple's leading-edge handset put the the two carriers head-to-head where they remain today.
But are either AT&T or Verizon willing to possibly anger Apple who may not be too happy about the Amazon rumor? While it's doubtful the Amazon smartphone would be anywhere near the sexiness and feature rich iPhone it will and does have some substantial marketing stead. And as recent reports indicate it seems consumers are increasingly opting for second-tier handsets with cheaper price tags and that's likely just where Amazon's supposed smartphone would land.
The news comes at a time when mid and low-tier wireless carriers are making inroads against the two market leaders and driving a pricewar that's never been seen before and shows no sign of stopping.
So an Amazon smartphone may just be the big device changer that T-Mobile and Sprint need to make the wireless market a three-horse fight.
Amazon is reportedly prepping its own smartphone device featuring sensor technologies, possible a 3D screen and it could be ready to drop into Christmas stockings, according to published reports.
While Amazon had not publicly comment on the reports as of early Friday evening, several industry media outlets claim is ready to take on smartphone titans Samsung, Apple and Google's Android offerings.
The news comes on the heels of Amazon's debut of Fire TV. As TechTimes reported earlier this week the $99 set-top device goes head-to-head with Google's Chromecast offering and Apple TV. . Fire TV boasts the entire Amazon Instant Video Library; original movies, TV series and video games; and a cache of MP3 music files available for download. Of course, all of this great content comes at the high price of an Amazon Prime membership, which costs $99 a year.
Amazon also just debuted a pilot bar scanner, called Dash, for its AmazonFresh food shopping business
If true, it's likely the smartphone would also serve a one-place console/controller for Fire TV, ordering off Amazon, subscribing to Amazon Web Services and all the other business segments within Amazon. Amazon's up against not only the formidable players mentioned but also Motorola Mobile, which is developing, what it hopes are market hot handsets and Lenovo, which is making huge strides, though mostly overseas, with its handsets.
