Why Amazon Doesn’t Need a Smartphone

While all the attention has been on Amazon’s announcement of the Kindle Fire HD, some have been expressing surprise that there is no Amazon smartphone.

After months of speculation there is genuine surprise that Amazon did not launch a smartphone along with the new Kindle, however, it appears that they may not need one thanks to their deal with Verizon.

Verizon Wireless has announced that selected Android devices will be preloaded with Amazon mobile applications. The apps include the Amazon shopping, Kindle, Audible and MP3 apps; there is also an app for clothes sales through Zappos and the IMDB app.

While no financial details of this deal have been disclosed, it is certain that Amazon will be paying Verizon.

These apps convent the devices into Amazon storefronts, just in the same way an Amazon phone would. Thanks to Amazon’s shopping app users will be able to scan barcodes and take pictures of products and immediately access listings for the same products on Amazon.

This app is basically turning smartphone users into Amazon’s agents, it will be reporting back to Amazon various retailers’ products and prices.

With an estimated 47% of smartphone owners using a shopping app it seems that Amazon is really may not need its own phone.