• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

As long as we're doing polls... Kindle phone?

Do you think Amazon will produce a Kindle phone?

  • Yes

  • No

  • Maybe

Results are only viewable after voting.
What exactly would a Kindle phone be?

The only Kindle device I would consider buying is one with an E-Ink screen.
 
I won't rule it out, but I don't see Amazon entering the EXTREMELY competitive smartphone market, especially when they have zero prior experience. Also, what would they do with a Kindle phone to make it more attractive than the current Samsung/HTC/Samsung/Apple/LG/Moto phones?
 
They'll fork Android, subsidize the cost, cut a deal with the carriers (that they already have relationships with), and sell a ton of them...

I think Amazon is going to become a very interesting company.
 
Pliablemoose said:
They'll fork Android, subsidize the cost, cut a deal with the carriers (that they already have relationships with), and sell a ton of them...

I think Amazon is going to become a very interesting company.
Click to expand...

Ok, but whats going to make someone buy a Kindle phone over the competitors? I can already ready books on my Android phone, tablet, iPhone, iPad, etc. I'm not sure Amazon would want to invest the money to develop what will amount to a full smartphone ecosystem.
 
Bateluer said:
Ok, but whats going to make someone buy a Kindle phone over the competitors? I can already ready books on my Android phone, tablet, iPhone, iPad, etc. I'm not sure Amazon would want to invest the money to develop what will amount to a full smartphone ecosystem.
Click to expand...

Price/value.

They'll make a fairly bulletproof phone, have a razor thin profit margin, steer users to their app store, Amazon books, and Amazon in general, a Kindle phone would be cheap or free, with slightly better specs than the "free" phones from the carriers.
 
Nope. I need the Fire as a cheap toy thats also more capable than other cheap Android toys.
In fact if I could get a decent tablet that takes care of all my multimedia needs I'd go back to a basic phone with strong battery and a simple service plan.
 
If it was a halfway decent device, say $200 or so with lifetime free 3G and some sort of reasonable 'buy as you go' service...? Could be interesting.

But something competing with the current subsidized business model for smartphones? I don't see it.
 
They might do it but there is no chance I would buy it.

The only appeal the Kindle Fire has is it might be possible to put ICS on it, otherwise I'm not interested in it either.
 
It's only a matter of time before it happens. Would I buy it? Probably just to mess around with it. The only phones I haven't tried are the WP7 phones, that's definitely one of the platforms I want to try. I am waiting for Nokia to come out with a device before I give it a spin.
 
I agree with Pliable. And while books might not be so great on a phone, Amazon has the ability to more or less do exactly what Apple is doing with the iCloud (or whatever they call it). They can slurp up your photos, provide cloud music and pull you into a mode where you can buy Amazon music and digital products. Like the Kindle Fire... only in a handset.

I think it's definitely coming...
 
Bateluer said:
I won't rule it out, but I don't see Amazon entering the EXTREMELY competitive smartphone market, especially when they have zero prior experience. Also, what would they do with a Kindle phone to make it more attractive than the current Samsung/HTC/Samsung/Apple/LG/Moto phones?
Click to expand...

The same could really be said for google a few years ago when they were first making android, couldn't it? I dunno what amazon will do, but it will be interesting.
 
Phones are turning into primary consumption devices, they have to get into the game. I bet they will make a great "mom phone" down the road.
 
Only if they acquired a network or entered into a partnership with one, such as Century Link. Buying a phone that is not part of a communications network is a risky market. So, I guess that supports "maybe."
 
I can't see Kindle phone. I think by the time Amazon has a phone ready for the US market, the smartphone market will be mature. I don't see the appeal of Amazon brand in third world countries. I don't see the possibility of Amazon phone for at least couple of years and then I think it will be too late. Maybe I'm myopic but I don't see Kindle phone.
 
Amazon already has the manufacturing experience with the Kindle readers, they're getting experience in forking Android with the next gen of Kindles, they have an app store, and they already have relationships with all the US carriers through their wireless store.

App/book/product sales would subsidize the device. The tough part would be riding the fine line between the free phones the carriers sell, and the super phones that come out every 15 minutes it seems...
 
I don't see it. The Fire is a media consumption device. The smaller screens of a phone doesn't lend themselves to that nearly as much. The added complexity of a phone with all the different radios and antennas would make it much harder to do on a low price like the fire.
 
boomhower said:
I don't see it. The Fire is a media consumption device. The smaller screens of a phone doesn't lend themselves to that nearly as much. The added complexity of a phone with all the different radios and antennas would make it much harder to do on a low price like the fire.
Click to expand...

The iP4s costs about $188 to manufacture with cdma & gsm radios/antennas, about the same price as what the Fire costs Amazon to manufacture.
 
Hmmmm they already have some kind of 3g experience with the kindles. I wonder what kind of splash they could make with a $200 no-contract phone running a stripped down Android OS and selling a $50 pre-pay plan with unlimited texting, 200-400 minutes of voice a month and 1 gig of data with non-retarded overage fees.
 
If Kindle Fire catches on as well as some people expect it to, I can definitely see Amazon getting into the smartphone market and using the Kindle brand name.

The Kindle business model would work extremely well for smartphones IMO: fairly powerful hardware, integration with Amazon's services, and razor-thin profit margins. They would be able to deliver hardware at prices the other OEMs simply couldn't compete with.
 
Pliablemoose said:
The iP4s costs about $188 to manufacture with cdma & gsm radios/antennas, about the same price as what the Fire costs Amazon to manufacture.
Click to expand...

That doesn't include R&D costs to develop it. I'm not saying it can't be done. I just don't think it makes as much sense as the tablet does. Using the Fire model and not having the Google Market place is more of a killer on the phone than it is on the tablet, at least to me.

But I didn't think about a pre-paid phone. If they go that route I can certainly see it a lot more. Decent smartphones on decently priced pre-paid plans are hard to come buy, only the Triumph comes to mind. That could be a hot ticket if they can get a carrier to go for it.
 
Wishful thinking. Android, iOS and WP7 have have the smartphone market covered. Penetrating a smartphone market that's about to adopt quad core CPU's and HD screens and relies on fully mature ecosystems? Not a chance.

There may be a niche market of those who inexplicably get aroused at the thought of a non gaaps version of Android but that market is way too small to generate significant sales. If it doesn't have free navigation and no access to Android Market's 500k apps, it won't fly with the smartphone users.

Though a nicely designed Amazon feature phone with some additional perks could capture sales.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top