There have been many stories about a possible Tesla phone, with one saying it's called "Model Pi." In a chat with Joe Rogan, Elon Musk said these stories aren’t true and mentioned that the company isn’t "doing a phone."
Musk's Perspective on Competition
Musk pointed out that since Tesla cars run on advanced software, the company is "probably" in "a better position" to create a phone that could compete with Android and iPhone than "any company in the world." But, he also added that it won’t happen unless it becomes necessary.
Conditional Smartphone Development
One scenario where Tesla might think about making a smartphone is if Apple and Google start doing things that are "really bad," like censoring apps or controlling access. This shows that Musk doesn’t feel there's a need to create a new competitor in the smartphone market right now.
Past Attempts by Other Companies
Other large companies have also tried to bring a third option into the market. For example, Amazon launched the Fire Phone in 2014, which used a modified version of Android. With its own app store and a strong online presence, Amazon's phone seemed like it could be a strong competitor, but it ultimately failed for several reasons.
Microsoft's Struggles
Another significant case is the Windows Phone. Despite Microsoft’s best efforts, it couldn’t attract app developers, which made it hard for the platform to get popular. Musk likely thinks about these past efforts, which might be another reason why Tesla isn’t rushing into making a phone just yet.
Joe Rogan Experience podcast via: Android Authority
