Amazon 3D smartphone launch event tipped for 18 June

Amazon is gearing up to unveil its first smartphone on 18 June, after posting a teaser video and inviting cutomers, developers and journalists to register for a launch event in Seattle.

In the video, Amazon customers are shown interacting with a device which is kept just out of shot. They are seen moving their heads to interact with the interface, a nod to the unique 3D gesture technology the firm is expected to integrate into its smartphone.

Like Amazon's popular Kindle Fire tablets, the long-rumoured smartphone is expected to run a heavily customised version of Android.

Key hardware features will include a 4.7in 720p display, quad-core processor, and 2GB of RAM, according to BGR, which also obtained the images.

Unconfirmed reports also indicate that a key selling point will be known as Prime Data. This is expected to be a special monthly data package, possibly exclusive to AT&T, which will allow users to stream a specific amount of Prime video and music for free.

Although there has been no official comment on the existence of the device from Amazon, WSJ sources claim an initial order of 600,000 units has been made and the devices will go on sale in the second half of 2014.

The initial rollout is expected to begin in the US, and then expand out to Amazon's key markets. This is the same strategy Amazon used for the Kindle tablets.