Amazon to launch smartphones with Prime Video, Kindle, Pay services

Move aimed at taking on Flipkart, which stole the smartphone market share in 2017

Amazon India is launching an exclusive smartphone which will have all of the platform's services, including Prime Video, Kindle and Amazon Pay, reported The Economic Times.

Flipkart stole a higher market share in the smartphone category in the first quarter of 2017. Data provided by Counterpoint Technology Market Research shows that in the first three months of 2017, Flipkart saw an increased market share of 57 per cent, up from previous quarter’s 51 per cent. On the other hand, Amazon India's share in this quarter fell from 33 per cent to 27 per cent from October to December 2016. 

"There are three features smartphones are heavily used for, other than calls. Shopping, watching videos, and reading and all of these are right there on top for Moto G5 with Prime Video, Kindle and Amazon Pay. We have very exciting brands coming in though we can't talk about them now," said Manish Tiwary, vice-president, category management, Amazon India. 

He added that for its exclusive brand tie-ups OnePlus and Coolpad, the platform works closely on specifications, customer behaviour, online brand value, and pricing. "This continues till the end of life for the device. When we start working with an exclusive brand, we know what the end of life for the device will be," added Tiwary.