Kindle Fire is seen at a news conference during the launch of Amazon's new tablets in New York. (Photo : Reuters)
Amazon today declined to comment on the company's upcoming tablets as reports circulated of five to six new tablets set to be released later this year. The reports were in fact miscommunication by a statement from US retailer Staples.
According to BusinessInsider, what is more likely is Amazon releasing two tablet sizes with storage options.
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Amazon released the Fire tablet last September in hopes to sell more digital material, music, movies, television shows, and apps and games to compete with Apple, Google, and Microsoft.
Currently, the Fire is available with a 7-inch touchscreen, 8GB of internal storage, and no 3G or 4G cellular data connection. If Amazon does release two new sizes, it is expected to come after and compete with Google's Nexus 7 and Apple's 9.7 inch iPad.
"You're seeing the Apple play book recreated by everyone else who wants to play in the mobile device ecosystem. Amazon is the latest entrant," said Glu Mobile Inc's Chief Executive Niccolo de Masi to Reuters, which develops mobile games for the Fire.
"The Kindle Fire is off to a great start," he added. "We will be supporting all new devices that have promise. They are trying to build on the foundations they have."
Since the Fire's release, Amazon's share of video revenue increased to 13 percent from 10 percent, according to The NDP Group. They also report Amazon's music sales rose by one percentage point to 14.4 percent.
"They haven't grown exponentially but that's a healthy gain post the Kindle Fire," said NPD Senior Entertainment Industry Analyst Russ Crupnick.
BusinessInsider adds that Amazon is expected to announce the new Kindle Fire tablet before the end of summer, for a target of a third-quarter release. Reuters reports than an Amazon smart phone would be launched in the fourth-quarter this year. Amazon has not commented if they're entering in the smart phone market, as their Chief Financial Officer Tom Szkutak not directly answering such questions.
