Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos has unveiled a new smartphone called Fire Phone.
It is smaller than leading Android phones, but larger than Apple’s iPhone. Mr Bezos calls the screen, measuring 4.7in diagonally, ideal for one-handed use.
During an announcement event today, he talked about the things people can do with it. The Fire Phone will bring features found in other Amazon devices, such as Mayday for live tech support.
Mr Bezos said: “You have to be patient, you have to work at it and you have to obsess about the smallest of details,” referring to Amazon’s approach to hardware.
Technology titan
The introduction continues Amazon’s evolution from online book seller to global technology titan with its hands in a growing number of businesses.
The world’s largest online retailer has debuted a variety of consumer electronics devices, including e-readers, tablets and TV set-top boxes, as a way to get its online store and digital services more directly in front of customers.
AT&T Inc, the second-biggest US mobile-phone operator, will be the exclusive carrier for the new smartphone. The arrangement is reminiscent of AT&T’s 2007 deal to be the sole carrier of Apple’s iPhone, which boosted the carrier.
Verizon Communications later started selling the iPhone in 2011.
The smartphone gives Amazon a way to feature its online store and digital services for games, mobile applications, movies and music on the computing device people take with them wherever they go.
Cloud Drive service
Instead of having its app among the hundreds of thousands available through Apple’s App Store or Google’s Play store, Amazon’s services are the centrepiece of the new device.
Mr Bezos touted the camera on the new phone, saying it has image stabilisation to counteract shaking as people take shots.
Amazon is offering unlimited free storage on its Cloud Drive service.
The phone will also come with earbuds that have flat cords and magnets to clasp them together, so tangled cords will be history.
3D images
Mr Bezos said the Fire Smartphone will have 3D Dynamic perspective, without elaborating. Media reports point to a smartphone that might have multiple cameras to produce 3D images.
It would not be the first 3D phone, but it would set it apart from leading phones such as Apple’s iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy S5. – (Bloomberg/Reuters)
