Amazon Plotting iPhone Rival

[Maura]

Having already released a very successful tablet with the Kindle Fire, Bloomberg reports that Amazon is now looking to release a smartphone to take on Apple’s iPhone and Android phones. Bloomberg says that it has heard from two sources who wish to remain anonymous that Foxconn, one of Apple’s main manufacturing partners, is working with Amazon to develop the new phone. Other sources have also told Bloomberg that Amazon is looking to acquire patents for wireless technology to prevent it from suffering the sort of lawsuits that have often been leveled at Apple. Bloomberg notes that although Amazon’s spokesman declined to comment on the matter, as far back as last November Citigroup analyst Mark Mahaney was already saying that Amazon intended to release its own smartphone. One wonders, though, what OS the new phone will use if it is intended to be a rival to Android phones, as well as to the iPhone? The Kindle Fire is based on Android, but it looks like this new Amazon phone would not be. Interesting!

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-07-06/amazon-said-to-plan-smartphone-to-vie-with-apple.html