AT&T will exclusively carry Amazon.com Inc’s long-rumored smartphone that is expected to be launched on Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the plans.
Amazon.com revived speculation about its next major product earlier this month, using a mysterious YouTube video and website post to announce a June 18 “launch event” in Seattle to be hosted by Chief Executive Jeff Bezos.
The Journal and several tech blogs have reported that Amazon may be working on a phone with a three-dimensional display.
AT&T was the exclusive partner of Apple when it launched the iPhone in 2007, and has previously tied up with Amazon for its Kindle line of tablets. The company is expected to heavily promote the Amazon phone when it launches, which is seen as a new revenue path for a smartphone market that’s largely Samsung and Apple.
Amazon will be banking on its content ecosystem and the fact that it has an engaged user base to position its smartphone. The company will likely throw in free content along with the phone and could also bring an ad-supported version like the Kindle series.
With inputs from Reuters