Amazon is planning a press conference on 6 September, in Los Angeles, adding to the rumours of a second generation Kindle Fire - or even an iPhone competitor from the Internet retailer.
While Amazon is keeping the details of the event under wraps, rumours of a Kindle Fire 2 have been doing the rounds for some time now. The event is also reportedly being organised by the company's Kindle division.
Amazon shook up the tablet market with the release of the seven-inch Kindle Fire in September last year, with its $199 price point. At the time, it was noted that Amazon appeared to be gunning directly for Apple, especially with the release of Amazon's own Appstore. The company's well-evolved online retail and content offerings also place Amazon in a strong competitive position.
While the Kindle Fire was released exclusively for the US market, there is hope that a second-generation device could be distributed more broadly. Earlier this year, Google released its own seven-inch tablet, the Nexus 7, and sales have already been outpacing demand. The growth of the seven-inch tablet market has also led to speculation that Apple will introduce its own smaller, low-cost version of the iPad.
report claimed that according to sources, Amazon has been working on an Android and iPhone competitor, with phone manufacturer Foxconn. In November last year, Citigroup analyst Mark Mahaney predicted that Amazon would enter the smartphone market with a device in the $150 to $170 price range.
September is shaping up to be a huge month for product announcements, as Nokia and Microsoft have scheduled a joint media event for 5 September. It is expected that the companies will reveal the first Windows Phone 8 handsets at the event.
While Apple is yet to confirm anything, all indications point towards a 12 September product launch for the iPhone 5. The rumour-mill has also suggested that an iPad Mini could be unveiled at the same event.
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