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It sounds like we’re closer to seeing the unveiling of the fabled Amazon phone than we’ve ever been. The most recent leak finally gave us a real shot of the device itself, something that’s been alluding us since these rumors began running rampant back in 2011.
Now, it seems we’ll be learning more about Amazon’s plans for offering data to those who opt to turn their mobile lives over to the e-tailer. BGR apparently has it on good authority that Amazon will be looking to push “Prime Data” with the phone.
Unfortunately we’re not entirely sure what that entails just yet, but Amazon is said to be hooking up with AT&T as an exclusive mobile partner here in the United States to facilitate that. Early beliefs are that Prime Data will be an Amazon promotion based on AT&T’s Sponsored Data program, where companies can pay AT&T to give users access to sites and services without using their own bandwidth.
It could certainly be beneficial for Amazon, whose business of delivering books, streaming movies and TV shows, apps and games, music and more will certainly take a toll on anyone’s data plan. With Prime Data, they could be looking to foot the bill for all those gigabytes. We’re not sure if said perks would be available to folks without an Amazon Prime subscription, but we imagine all of that will be worked out and laid out when the time to make this announcement comes.
When that announcement actually comes is still in the air, though it’s believed the year won’t expire without Amazon finally coming clean with the plans we know they’ve been working on for years.
I don’t like the sound of that at all.
Not at all. I’ll avoid something like this on the principle alone of tiering the internet.
Could be interesting…just as the iPhone had a hardware exclusive contract with AT&T. This is a new take on that kind partnership but with Data.
It might work out really well if it was some alternate to higher data caps or unlimited data. From a net neutrality perspective, pray that AT&T doesn’t give them preferential bandwidth treatment. :-/
Or I could just not use Amazon’s crappy phone and instead use awesome inexpensive AWESOME phones like OnePlus 1 and Nexus 5 on an UNLIMITED data plan from T-Mobile.
well, maybe not awesome, but definitely inexpensive, Hard to be awesome with poor battery life, dull display and no external storage on the Nexus 5
As for the One Plus, who knows if we’ll ever see it. Obviously they have no production capability if they are releasing 100 phones and a handful of invites in the worst launch of all time.
For a small start up company who has managed to massive demand for their 1st product, I don’t think it’s that bad. They don’t have any other market to help support them like LG, Samsung, and HTC do.
Oh their awesome. Awesomely spec’d and awesomely priced. Do some comparisons. Fullest feature list? No, but still awesome.
I have to admit that if Amazon gave free data when reading, listening, watching, and buying from their media and services it would be enticing. No matter how much I dislike Amazon this would make it so I could get rid of home internet.
Youporn needs some sponsored data
Alluding? Eluding.
I think I’d rather go and buy a tablet from T-Mobile, get their free data, and not be stuck into a locked ecosystem.