Android co-founder Andy Rubin’s new smartphone company Essential missed its release deadline for its very first smartphone, the Essential Phone. While those who pre-registered to purchase the handset are still waiting to get their hands on it, the company has confirmed Amazon and Best Buy retail availability for the Essential Phone.
Essential has also confirmed that it has raised $300 million in a funding round. The war chest will enable the company to effectively compete against its rivals. The funding comes from Chinese giant Tencent and Amazon’s Alexa Fund, to name a few.
The company has now confirmed that the Essential Phone will be available at retail from Best Buy. Amazon is going to start selling it as well. This will enable the company to expand the reach of its first smartphone to a significantly larger potential customer base.
However, the detail that many are most interested in hasn’t been confirmed as yet. Essential President Nicole De Masi told the Wall Street Journal today that the release is still “a few weeks away,” but mentioned that Essential will provide a confirmed release date “in a week.”
Essential previously confirmed that it will be selling the smartphone directly to customers. It has also selected Sprint as the exclusive carrier partner for the Essential Phone. It will confirm international carrier partners later this year.
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