'Amazon plans iPhone-killing Android mobe' – report
Might use mega-Chinese contractor Foxconn for the build
Posted in Mobile, 6th July 2012 14:02 GMT
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It was only a matter of time before rumours started circulating that Amazon wanted to build a smartphone, since every tech firm worth their salt these days has to be rumoured to be taking on either the iPhone or the iPad.
Since Amazon has already sort of taken on the iPad with its hugely successful ereader, it could now be about to take on the iPhone with a smartphone of its own, built by none other than Apple's own manufacturing buddy Foxconn, sources told Bloomberg.
The etailer extraordinaire is planning a mobe that will run on Android, two people familiar with the matter said, one of whom added that Foxconn would be manufacturing the device.
Naturally, any serious player considering entering the smartphone arena has to think about patents. Other insiders told Bloomberg that the firm is on the search for some of its very own wireless tech patentry to throw in Apple's face when Cupertino inevitably launches its IP lawsuits.
Apparently, Amazon had its eye on some of InterDigital's IP before it was sold to Intel for $375m. But the firm is taking meetings with other patent-holders (one of them has got to be IBM, surely) to see if it can build a portfolio.
Amazon had not returned a request for comment at the time of publication. ®
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