Amazon’s intended foray into the smartphone market has been talked about for a long time now. Will they or won’t they launch a smartphone? Rumours have suggested the former is likely to be the case, following on from the success of the Kindle Fire tablets.
Whilst we’ve been told that the phone would, like the Kindle Fire, be based on Android and feature 3D tech of some sort, very little has been said about the prospect since around October time last year. Now, a well-known securities analyst and tech fortune teller has reignited the fire by revealing plenty about what he believes will be the first Amazon smartphone.
Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities is often known for predicting Apple’s future moves with frightening accuracy, and on occasion he also likes to spoil Samsung’s secrets, so we’ve reason to perk up and take a listen to what he has to say. Apparently Amazon will launch its smartphone within the next 3-6 months, with production starting between April and May.
As has been hinted at previously by other rumours, Kuo believes that Amazon will introduce a phone with a unique number of cameras: six. “The key feature of the smartphone, we believe, will be the six cameras,” Kuo wrote in a recent note to clients. “Aside from the main camera, which is used to take pictures, and the sub camera, used for video conferencing (these are both found in all smartphones), we think the other four cameras will be used for gesture control, allowing users to operate the smartphone without touching the touch panel.”
As Kuo explained in his note, Amazon is looking to hit the ground running with a phone that offers something very unique, setting it aside from established competitors such as Apple and Samsung. It’s likely that the first Amazon smartphone will be gesture controlled, meaning that the user can scroll and tap without actually putting a finger on the screen. The retail giant will also be offering a wealth of entertainment and media options, thanks to its sprawling collection of services which include LoveFilm, Amazon MP3, Amazon apps and others.
In terms of raw specifications, Kuo believes that the phone will run Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 801 processor (the same as in the Galaxy S5), a 4.7-inch high resolution display, a 13 megapixel Sony camera and a battery between 2,000 – 2,400 mAh. If these specs are correct, then we hope to meet with Amazon’s first stab at a smartphone sooner rather than later.