Tablet War Adds Amazon
Internet behemoths and technology bellweathers have much to be worried about these days when it comes to the development of tablet hardware. Amazon has entered into the fray of recent tablet wars with its Kindle Fire. This multi-touch computer with built-in wi-fi was introduced by Amazon’s CEO Jeff Bezos on Wednesday, September 28, 2011, in New York. The handheld device is set at an introductory price of $199, just half of the price of Apple’s iPad. While the device does not offer 3G network connections, the mobile unit is bound to be a hit with entertainment affecionados due to its access to Amazon’s extensive online library of books, music and movies. The unit utilizes Google’s Android operating system and includes access to the Android mobile application marketplace for applications like Angry Birds and Fruit Samurai. At a news conference held in New York, Brezos unveiled the Kindle Fire as the latest entry in the mobile tablet computer war that has competitors amid the likes of HTC, Samsung and Apple. As the world’s largest online retailer, Amazon enters into the market of mobile devices with a strong offering that shall surely shake up the entire mobile marketplace. The Kindle Fire provides a seven-inch display screen that makes the mobile device more than just an upgraded e-reader. Amazon will offer a free 30-day trial of its Amazon Prime, valued at $79 for membership, to Kindle Fire users. In addition, Amazon also offers Amazon Silk as a cloud-based application for enhanced, high-speed content transmission. On the news of the introduction of the Kindle Fire, Amazon’s stock on the Nasdaq stock market price rose by $5.50 to $229.71. Amazon’s leading competitors Apple and Barnes & Noble both suffered stock price losses, indicating that the tablet computer war is truly on and in full swing.
Filed in: Business news, Tablets