Amazon is reportedly working with Foxconn, the company who also manufactures the iPhone for Apple, on a new Android-based smartphone to compete in the smartphone market. It will go head-to-head with Apple’s own iPhone and other Android devices.
According to Bloomberg, claims have been made that Amazon is seeking to acquire patents that cover wireless technology that would help defend it against possible allegations of infringement.
Similar to Amazon’s tablet device, the Kindle Fire, a smartphone would be useful for Amazon to get more content out to customers through more devices, thus generating more profit for Amazon. For instance, the Kindle Fire gives users easy access to books, movies, and music purchases from Amazon’s online media store.
According to data compiled by Bloomberg, Amazon has been involved in five patent-related cases this year and twenty cases last year. Amazon is thinking ahead and trying to protect a future smartphone from suffering patent infringement accusations, which seems to be a trend in the smartphone market lately.
It’s not clear when Amazon might release this rumored smartphone, and the company has not commented on these reports, neither to confirm nor deny rumors.
Source: Bloomberg via The Mac Observer
Image Credit: tech2
