Amazon’s Fire Phone Launches to Mixed Reviews

Amazon is the latest tech and Internet giant to make a foray into the world of smartphones, and the company’s upcoming Fire Phone has generated a great deal of debate among industry onlookers. Some believe it is going to be a spectacular and embarrassing flop for Amazon, while others think it will inevitably succeed as Amazon continues to grow. Both sides have compelling arguments to make.

Those who think the Fire Phone is doomed to fail point to its lofty price tag; the Fire Phone starts at $199, and an unlocked model commands a whopping $649. Considering that the Fire Phone is designed more as a digital shopping device than a full-service smartphone, there are many industry analysts who believe that price is simply too high. In fact, some have suggested that the Fire Phone would be much more likely to succeed if it were available for a nominal price with service provided at a very low cost.

The flip side of the coin is that Amazon is a dominant market force, and its rampant growth is continuing at such a runaway pace that the company could completely dominate most segments of the consumer market within a few years. The Fire Phone could soon make shopping for just about anything a fast, easy and convenient experience…and some analysts predict that practically everyone who shops on the Amazon network will own one sooner or later.

For Android app developers, the key to this story isn’t so much the success or the failure of the Fire Phone, but rather the undeniable arrival of a smartphone-centered retail landscape. It’s a foregone conclusion that smartphone-based retail sales are going to continue growing in the years ahead, which creates immense opportunities for software developers.

If you’re a mobile app developer in New York City looking to the future, the retail sector merits close attention. As the retail world continues its shift into the digital landscape, demand for specialized mobile shopping software will continue to increase.