Amazon introduces digital coins and gives millions away for free to Kindle Fire owners
Today Amazon introduced “Amazon Coins,” a digital currency can be used to purchase thousands of Kindle Fire apps, games, and in-app items. The coins never expire, and and purchasing them can save Kindle Fire owners up to 10% on their digital Amazon App Store purchases. A US dollar is equal to 100 coins in the ecosystem, but depending on the amount of coins you buy, you receive a discount.
See the list below for savings:
- 500 Amazon Coins for $4.80 (Save 20 cents – 4%)
- 1000 Amazon Coins for $9.50 (Save 50 cents – 5%)
- 2500 Amazon Coins for $23.00 (Save 2 dollars – 8%)
- 5000 Amazon Coins for $45.00 (Save 5 dollars – 10%)
- 10000 Amazon Coins for $90.00 (Save 10 dollars- 10%)
In addition, Amazon has given 500 Amazon Coins to all current Kindle Fire owners for free. We are unsure how many Kindle Fire units have been sold, as Amazon has not released any official numbers, but the Kindle Fire HD remains as the number one seller on the multinational commerce site. It is safe to say that Amazon has given millions of dollars away to customers in the form of their new currency.
The launch of Amazon Coins is not unexpected as the plans were leaked in early February of this year. Amazon’s Vice President of Apps and Games had stated:
Developers continue to report higher conversion rates on Amazon compared to other platforms… we now have another new way to help developers reach even more of our millions of customers. Amazon Coins gives customers an easy way to spend money on developers’ apps on Kindle Fire in the Amazon Appstore.
While the new digital Amazon currency will help benefit thrifty Amazon Appstore customers and help parents manage limits on their children’s Amazon Kindle, it begs to question whether or not the currency will catch on with the majority of users. Digital currency and point system have never been as loved as their straightforward dollar amount brothers, as shown by Microsoft’s Xbox point system. While Amazon enters the digital currency with a new discounted twist, Microsoft began to pull out months ago.
What do you think about Amazon’s new digital currency?
[Amazon | PC Mag]
