Amazon brings on Microsoft phone executive

Amid rumors that Amazon.com Inc. is developing its own smartphone to rival iPhone and Android devices, a former Microsoft phone executive has joined the online retailing giant.

The ex-Microsoft executive, Robert Williams, announced his new job on Linkedin and Twitter. He is now director of Amazon’s Appstore.

Appropriately, amid all the speculation over new developments at Amazon, his Twitter bio currently reads, “working on a top secret project called .... oops, gotta go.”

Williams, a 15-year veteran at Microsoft, was senior director of business development at the company’s phone division for four years. That has fueled even more speculation about Amazon’s potential mobile offerings.

Reports surfaced Wednesday that Amazon may be testing a smartphone in Asia and may start production later this year or in early 2013.

Amazon is also said to be working on a Kindle Fire 2, the sequel to its relatively easy-on-the-budget tablet device.

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