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The New York Times has reported that online
retail giant Amazon could soon be expanding its range of electronic gadgets
following the reception that greeted the Kindle.
The NYT claims to have gotten its scoop by examining Amazon’s recruitment
adverts, industry insiders and those with an intimate familiarity of the
company’s dealings.
It is apparent that the personnel of Lab 126 – the department responsible for
the creation of the Kindle – may have been appointed the duty of creating
another device with the potential to be as successful as the e-reader. Lab
126’s recruitment adverts have mostly been for jobs directly related to
manufacturing consumer electronics, including systems engineers, hardware
engineers and supply chain managers. Whilst many of these positions relate to
the Kindle’s further development, rumours abound that the tasks appointed to
them will not stop there.
An unnamed source revealed to the New York Times that MP3 players have been
green lit by the company, and a Smartphone has been mooted. Although Amazon
feels that it may be overreaching itself with a mobile phone, the idea has yet
to be completely ruled out. Given the difficulties encountered with making an
impression on the hardware market, many analysts feel that this would be a
brave move by Amazon, pointing out the failure of search giant Google will its
ill-fated Nexus One Smartphone.
If Amazon releases a MP3 player on the market, it will mean that the firm will
be fighting a battle with industry darlings Apple on two fronts, as it competes
directly with the wildly successful iPod and iPad. The unceasing demand for
such portable devices has in turn boosted the insurance industry, as more
people take out iPod insurance
policies, Blackberry insurance and
general gadget insurance.
Industry analyst Jack Gold thinks that it would make some sense if Amazon were
to market portable media devices if the aim was to drive sales of music and
films through its website, similar to iTunes.
So far, Amazon has refused to make any comment on the speculation, and some
have suggested that the firm is experiencing trouble recruiting the key
personnel it needs.
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