Amazon will reportedly give away its smartphone for free

The phone would be free, no wireless contract necessary, and sold on Amazon.com or through wireless carriers, according to unnamed sources.

Amazon is going to give away its long-rumored smartphone for free, according to a report from former Wall Street Journal reporters Amir Efrati and Jessica E. Lessin.

Unnamed sources told the pair that Amazon is considering the offer for “its long-planned smartphone.” While it has talked to wireless companies about selling the phones through the carriers’ channels, Amazon will probably sell the phone on its site. The company doesn’t want to make people sign up for a wireless plan contract for the free phone, a requirement wireless companies typically use to encourage customers to renew their contracts in exchange for a free or discounted phone. It’s unclear if Amazon would make its smartphone users sign up for something similar to a carrier’s plan, like the Amazon Prime program, which wraps free delivery and content services into a yearly subscription.