Amazon Announces the Fire Phone

[cnev3]

Could this be an iPhone 6 killer? I'm thinking about not upgrading to an iPhone 6 when it comes out if it doesn't have a larger screen, and wider not just taller like they did with the iPhone 5.

About as likely as the Kindle becoming an iPad killer.

Fire Phone has good hardware and some cool features, but it won't have the things that are more important than that: ecosystem, large library of quality apps, refined OS, integration with iDevices, lots of accessories, best warranty and support, better built materials, voice assistant, available on more than just 1 carrier, etc...

The larger (not just taller) screen is pretty much certain at this point with the leaks that have been seen.

The Fire Phone looks like it could be a good first entry, and have the potential to grow into a serious competitor though.

 

[Bacong]

There were a lot of idiots who also mocked & laughed at the the original iPhone, yet look at where it is now.

Most of those mocking the device simply lack the long-term vision to see where the fire could be in 4 - 5 years.

While I am very happy with my 5s and won't be buying the Amazon Fire, that doesn't mean I am naive enough to dismiss a first attempt as good as this.

The original iPhone was so different from any other phone out in the market at that time, and way more risky than the Fire phone. I don't find your comparison apt, mostly because there are tons of phones out there that deliver better experiences. The Fire Phone has two defining features -- Firefly and Dynamic Perspective -- both of which do little functionally. Dynamic perspective is neat, sure, but basically useless. Firefly? I mean, it's been done before, but now it links to Amazon! woo!

It's running a forked Android with an ugly UI and limited app support. Its main function is to sell you items on amazon. That's a far cry from Apple's vision. What do you see from this phone that makes you think in 4-5 years they could really have something?

 

[aneftp]

Wow amazing, launch day for Fire Phone (July 24th).

No one has even posted about it. Guess no one is hurrying into the ATT store to get one or pre ordered it and had it delivered.

 

[mattopotamus]

Wow amazing, launch day for Fire Phone (July 24th).

No one has even posted about it. Guess no one is hurrying into the ATT store to get one or pre ordered it and had it delivered.

So true. I would think some people would have it by now, but not even a little buzz.

 

[gbkrip]

Wow amazing, launch day for Fire Phone (July 24th).

No one has even posted about it. Guess no one is hurrying into the ATT store to get one or pre ordered it and had it delivered.

I was really impressed with the technology used for object recognition but the phone itself seemed like a let down. I've never thought to myself, "It's just so hard to buy from Amazon... if only I had a phone dedicated to buying from Amazon!" I'm not sure what the train of thought was...

 

[rhinosrcool]

Maybe, when Amazon releases a smartwatch, they'll include the phone for free (instead of the reverse) ?

 

[jamezr]

I was really impressed with the technology used for object recognition but the phone itself seemed like a let down. I've never thought to myself, "It's just so hard to buy from Amazon... if only I had a phone dedicated to buying from Amazon!" I'm not sure what the train of thought was...

LOL......i buy a lot of stuff from Amazon. But never once did i think...."Wow...if only i had a dedicated phone for ordering stuff from Amazon!" Would it make the drones fly faster?

 

[mattopotamus]

LOL......i buy a lot of stuff from Amazon. But never once did i think...."Wow...if only i had a dedicated phone for ordering stuff from Amazon!" Would it make the drones fly faster?

the drones would be able to recognize your face better.

 

[jamezr]

the drones would be able to recognize your face better.

True! Did not think of that! Then maybe GPS pinpoint delivery? Maybe it could reroute delivery if I'm not home? The drone could just determine my location based off GPS location of the phone and drop it off wherever I am?

 

[12vElectronics]

Almost time till release. Although I'm not getting one I am excited to see it...

 

[12vElectronics]

Came to back to see how the Amazon Fire phone is doing but I think I answered my own question.

-Took over 3 pages to find this thread in the Alternative to iOS and iOS Devices subsection.
-I was the last person to post in here.

Seems like this phone is a big fat flop?

 

[aneftp]

Came to back to see how the Amazon Fire phone is doing but I think I answered my own question.

-Took over 3 pages to find this thread in the Alternative to iOS and iOS Devices subsection.
-I was the last person to post in here.

Seems like this phone is a big fat flop?

Agreed.

Pricing for the amazon phone is a big turn off. (Along with att only). Even though I had att. I wouldn't consider this phone.

$199/299 on contract? $650 full price?

I can get lg g3 with same 32gb built in memory and better screen for $580 full price at att.

Can get galaxy s5/htc one m8 for similar pricing as well.

In this crowded competitive market. Amazon isn't offering anything over the competition.

What do they have to offer? One year free amazon prime service?

 

[Shanghaichica]

Came to back to see how the Amazon Fire phone is doing but I think I answered my own question.

-Took over 3 pages to find this thread in the Alternative to iOS and iOS Devices subsection.
-I was the last person to post in here.

Seems like this phone is a big fat flop?

I think it's officially been declared a flop.

http://m.t3.com/news/amazons-fire-phone-flops-at-under-35000-sales

 

[Rodster]

Huge mistakes by Amazon:

1) No Google Play access

2) AT&T exclusive carrier

If Amazon had decided to offer a similar service to Straight Talk (no-contract), they could have had a much better acceptance. I was interested until I found out about it being a contract phone. You can do much better with alternatives like Verizon and T-Mobile.

 

[12vElectronics]

I think it's officially been declared a flop.

http://m.t3.com/news/amazons-fire-phone-flops-at-under-35000-sales

Lol 35,000 phones sold. Apple 5S sold 9 million on the release weekend.

Amazon Fire phone should have been an Amazon premium paid APP.

 

[Lloydbm41]

Lol 35,000 phones sold. Apple 5S sold 9 million on the release weekend.

Amazon Fire phone should have been an Amazon premium paid APP.

To be fair, those 9 million in sales included pre-orders, but point taken.

 

[aneftp]

It took Apple about 70-80 days to realize the iPhone at $599 couldn't sell and tenth dropped the price to $399 in September 2007.

Amazon will need to make a decision in the next 20 days or so. The iPhone 6 is coming.

If sales are at 35000. It will be close to zero after not only the iPhone 6. But also note 4.

Just bad pricing by amazon.

Nokia at least tried to see the original lumia 900 for $99 on contract when the lumia entered the USA market and $450 full price.

Do something amazon.

 

[ucfgrad93]

Huge mistakes by Amazon:

1) No Google Play access

2) AT&T exclusive carrier

For me, the no Google Play and the really bad skin kill the Fire phone and Fire HDX.

 

[rhinosrcool]

It took Apple about 70-80 days to realize the iPhone at $599 couldn't sell and tenth dropped the price to $399 in September 2007.

Amazon will need to make a decision in the next 20 days or so. The iPhone 6 is coming.

If sales are at 35000. It will be close to zero after not only the iPhone 6. But also note 4.

Just bad pricing by amazon.

Nokia at least tried to see the original lumia 900 for $99 on contract when the lumia entered the USA market and $450 full price.

Do something amazon.

Soon, you will get some great deals. Does it matter?

As most predicted, the price was ridiculous. Resale value is gonna hurt. Those 35,000 or so customers are gonna have a fun two years (if that's what their contract is) enjoying this beast.

Amazon will probably come up with some incentives to get more customers and to appease the current ones...

 

[Carlanga]

To be fair, those 9 million in sales included pre-orders, but point taken.

The 5S didn't have preorders

---------------------

I think amz this time overdid it w gimiicks to get noticed, but that makes the price increase and they need to be cheaper than the competition to gain a following… They are noticing this with the firetv which has been for the last few weeks on sale for $84.

 

[AppleRobert]

The kid on the surf for nine years and never has seen anything like it?

I looked at it for 5 minutes in an AT&T store. That is all it took to know this would be my last pick for anything I've seen in the last nine years.

But you can get one year of Prime for free. Better run, don't walk.

 

[mattopotamus]

It took Apple about 70-80 days to realize the iPhone at $599 couldn't sell and tenth dropped the price to $399 in September 2007.

Amazon will need to make a decision in the next 20 days or so. The iPhone 6 is coming.

If sales are at 35000. It will be close to zero after not only the iPhone 6. But also note 4.

Just bad pricing by amazon.

Nokia at least tried to see the original lumia 900 for $99 on contract when the lumia entered the USA market and $450 full price.

Do something amazon.

So very true. 35,000 phones is a complete joke. If they would have priced this aggressively as they did the kindle they would be looking at a lot more sales. As someone who uses very basic apps, I would have bought one for ~$350 contract free. The prime membership for free would have easily justified it for me at that price point.

Oddly enough there has been a few times in the last week where I thought the firefly feature would be useful.

 

[aneftp]

So very true. 35,000 phones is a complete joke. If they would have priced this aggressively as they did the kindle they would be looking at a lot more sales. As someone who uses very basic apps, I would have bought one for ~$350 contract free. The prime membership for free would have easily justified it for me at that price point.

Oddly enough there has been a few times in the last week where I thought the firefly feature would be useful.

Amazon still needs to make a profit. But I think they over thought their pricing and got greedy seeing how profitable the super phones profit margins are.

A $399 pricing full price would have moved sales easily. It's a magic number. Something in the "3s" price range.

Look at the xbox one vs ps4. $399 vs $499. Even though Xbox one added kinect for $499 pricing.

Consumers care about bottom line pricing.

 

[12vElectronics]

Consumers care about bottom line pricing.

Unless you give the customer a reason to pay more. Apple has done that. Samsung has done that. Amazon didn't bring anything to the table that warranted the asking price for their phone.

 

[mattopotamus]

Amazon still needs to make a profit. But I think they over thought their pricing and got greedy seeing how profitable the super phones profit margins are.

A $399 pricing full price would have moved sales easily. It's a magic number. Something in the "3s" price range.

Look at the xbox one vs ps4. $399 vs $499. Even though Xbox one added kinect for $499 pricing.

Consumers care about bottom line pricing.

I do not think they make a profit off the hardware sale of the kindle fire. They bank on people buying from amazon and their app store.