Is a $25 savings worth it? We will have to wait and see. However, as you’ll read in a moment, the special offers have the potential to add a nice stream of savings for user. However, potential and what ends up happening are often not the same thing.
The subsidized Kindle with “special offers & sponsored screensavers” will cost $114 and is Wi-Fi only. It has the six inch screen and will only be available in the U.S.
The same device without the special offers and screensavers (the device that has been available for a while) will continue continue to sell for $139. The 3G version sells for $189.
The ad-subsidized Kindle begins shipping on May 3rd.
Amazon.com provides an idea of the screen savers and special offers (in the initial weeks):
Receive special offers directly on your Kindle. Examples include:
$10 for $20 Amazon.com Gift Card
$6 for 6 Audible Books (normally $68)
$1 for an album in the Amazon MP3 Store (choose from over 1 million albums)
$10 for $30 of products in the Amazon Denim Shop or Amazon Swim Shop
Free $100 Amazon.com Gift Card when you get an Amazon Rewards Visa Card (normally $30)
Buy one of 30 Kindle bestsellers with your Visa card and get $10 Amazon.com credit
50% off Roku Streaming Player (normally $99)Images of Two Kindle Screensavers Displaying Amazon.com “Special Offers”
Smart thinking Amazon. While the savings is just $25 users can get more for their money with the special offers that might also help Amazon user loyalty. The question is will these special offers from Amazon continue or are they just for the launch period. Btw, several of the offers are worded to read like Groupon and Living Social deals. We’re still not sure the $25 savings is enough to see a rush of new users. TBD.
Companies already on board as advertisers include Visa, Olay, Buick, and Chase.
Users Can Also Help Select Screensavers
Our goal is to display sponsored screensavers that you want to see. That’s why we’ve created a free Kindle app and website (coming soon) called AdMash. Anyone who’s interested can download AdMash and help pick future screensavers. Two prospective screensavers show up side-by-side, and you pick the one you find most attractive. The ones preferred most by customers qualify to become sponsored screensavers.
Finally, Amazon notes that whatever special offers and sponsored screensavers will only display on the Kindle screensaver AND on the bottom of the home screen. They continue and make it clear that the offers and ads will not interrupt reading.
More Info/Order Here
Note: In the “Special Offers & Sponsored Screensavers” section of the page you’ll see pictures of two Kindles each with ads for Visa.
See Also: Official Text News Release
See Also: “Lower Kindle 3 pricing with Ads. Andrys’ thoughts” (via TeleRead)
See Also: “Amazon Introduces Ad-supported Kindle With Special Offers” (via PC World)
See Also: “Amazon.com to Sell Version of Kindle E-Book Reader for $114 Featuring Ads” (via Bloomberg)
About Gary Price
