Amazon poaches Microsoft man, prompting frenzied phone rumours

Amazon’s reported hiring of Microsoft’s ex senior director of business development at the Windows Phone Division, has sparked rumours that the company may be heading into the Smartphone space.

Robert Williams’ Twitter bio has been updated to read: “working on a top secret project called…oops, gotta go,” which has sent the rumour mill into overdrive with speculation that the project is an Amazon smartphone.

The new Amazon recruit was previously a senior director of business Relevant Products/Services development at Microsoft’s Windows Relevant Products/Services Phone Division. Prior to that he held the same position over the Premium Mobile Experiences group.

He is also is now director of Amazon’s Appstore for Android Relevant Products/Services.

However, analysts have told Mobile Tech Today that the feasibility of Amazon selling its own smartphone is slim.

Carl Howe, VP at the Yankee Group said this was because unlike tablets or e-readers, which it had demonstrated success in, phones were “a three-party transaction between the manufacturer, the consumer and a mobile Relevant Products/Services carrier.”

There was also concern over key players such as Apple dominating the market.

However, whether or not Amazon is moving into this space, its still got its Kindle and Tablet business under control.

Last month it hired a range of new staff geared towards these product spaces, making sure the world knew it was still gunning to be a key player here.