Why The Fire Phone Will Fuel Amazon's Profit And Add $3 Billion To Its Pocket

When  unveiled its Fire Phone on Wednesday afternoon, critics quickly lambasted the company for producing a device that resembles a hand-held cash register more than a personal cell phone. But with Amazon poised to pocket nearly $3 billion in the phone’s first year on the market, analysts are calling for a cease-fire. The long-awaited device, which is exclusively offered to customers, boasts 3-D displays and an image recognition system that keeps shoppers’ dollars in Amazon’s wallet by connecting users directly to its shopping platform. The smartphone’s reveal has sparked debate among investors and reporters alike over why the e-commerce giant would release a phone when it could concentrate on building chart-topping apps on other platforms.