Amazon developing new AI-driven smartphone years after Fire Phone flop: report
Amazon is reportedly developing a new smartphone more than a decade after scrapping its Fire Phone, with plans for an AI-driven device integrated with Alexa and its broader services ecosystem.
The tech giant's new effort is called "Transformer" and is being developed within the company's devices and services unit, according to Reuters, citing four people familiar with the project.
The outlet said the new phone could be a mobile personalization device able to sync with the voice assistant platform Alexa.
Details about the anticipated price of the phone, along with Amazon's financial commitment to the project and revenue projections, were not immediately clear.
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Sources told Reuters the project's timeline is also unclear, noting it could still be scrapped.
An Amazon spokesperson declined to comment to Reuters. Fox Business has reached out to Amazon for comment.
Amazon introduced the Fire Phone in 2014, packaging the product with a free year of Amazon Prime.
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While the smartphone was launched with a lot of hype, it received mixed reviews with complaints ranging from a lackluster operating system to its high price, which was initially $649.
The company canceled the smartphone after just 14 months, taking a $170 million charge for unsold inventory, Reuters reported.
Apple and Samsung together commanded about 40% of global smartphone sales last year, according to Counterpoint Research, a market Amazon would now be reentering with its reported new device.
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According to Reuters, the new smartphone would include personalization features that would allow users to easily access Amazon.com, Prime Video and food delivery apps like Grubhub.
The project is focused on integrating artificial intelligence into the device, which could eliminate the need for traditional app stores, the outlet added.
Reuters contributed to this report.