Amazon.com to Buy Audible.com
January 31, 2008
Audible.com the online provider of premium digital spoken word audio content, specialising in digital audio editions of books, newspapers and magazines, television and radio programs and original programming. Through its web sites in the US and UK and alliances in Germany and France, Audible.com offers over 80,000 programs, including audiobooks from well-known authors such as Stephen King, Thomas Friedman, and Jane Austen, and spoken word audio content from sources including The New York Times, The New Yorker, Fresh Air and Charlie Rose.
“Audible.com offers the best customer experience, the widest content selection and the broadest device compatibility in the industry,” said Steve Kessel, Amazon.com’s senior vice president for worldwide digital media. “Working together, we can introduce more innovations and bring this format to an even wider audience.”
In recent months, Amazon has announced a number of innovations in the digital space, including Amazon Kindle, a revolutionary wireless portable reader that provides instant wireless downloads of more than 90,000 books, blogs, magazines and newspapers to a crisp, high-resolution electronic paper display.
Under the terms of the agreement, Amazon.com will commence a cash tender offer to purchase all of the outstanding shares of Audible.com for $11.50 per share and will assume Audible.com’s outstanding stock-based awards, for an aggregate transaction value of approximately $300 million which includes Audible.com’s cash and short-term investments at closing.
The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to close by the second quarter of 2008.
Source: Amazon.com
Amazon to Begin International Rollout of Amazon MP3
January 27, 2008
Amazon.com today announced that in 2008 the company will begin an international rollout of Amazon MP3, Amazon’s DRM-free MP3 digital music store where every song is playable on virtually any digital music-capable device, including the PC, Mac, iPod, Zune, Zen, iPhone, RAZR, and BlackBerry. Amazon MP3 is the only retailer so far to offer customers DRM-free MP3s from all four major music labels as well as over 33,000 independent labels.
“We have received thousands of e-mails from Amazon customers around the world asking us when we will make Amazon MP3 available outside of the U.S. They can’t wait to choose from the biggest selection of high-quality, low-priced DRM-free MP3 music downloads which play on virtually any music device they own today or will own in the future,” said Bill Carr, Amazon.com Vice President of Digital Music. “We are excited to tell those customers today that Amazon MP3 is going international this year.”
Launched on Amazon.com in September 2007, Amazon MP3 offers Earth’s Biggest Selection of a la carte DRM-free MP3 music downloads, which now includes over 3.3 million songs from more than 270,000 artists. Every song and album in the Amazon MP3 music download store is available exclusively in the MP3 format without digital rights management (DRM) software and is encoded at 256 kbps to deliver high audio quality. Amazon MP3 customers are free to enjoy their music downloads using any hardware device; organize their music using any music management application, such as iTunes or Windows Media Player; and burn songs to CDs for personal use.
Most songs available on Amazon MP3 are priced from 89 cents to 99 cents, with more than 1 million of the over 3.3 million songs priced at 89 cents. The top 100 bestselling songs are 89 cents, unless marked otherwise. Most albums are priced from $5.99 to $9.99. The top 100 bestselling albums are $8.99 or less, unless marked otherwise. Buying and downloading MP3s from Amazon MP3 is easy. Customers can purchase downloads using Amazon 1-Click shopping, and with the Amazon MP3 Downloader, seamlessly add their MP3s to their iTunes or Windows Media Player libraries.
Amazon is not disclosing a specific launch timeline for individual Amazon international websites.
Amazon MP3 to Add DRM-Free Downloads from Sony
January 10, 2008
Amazon.com today announced that DRM-free MP3 music downloads from SONY will be available to customers on Amazon MP3, Amazon’s DRM-free MP3 digital music store where every song is playable on virtually any digital music-capable device, including PCs, Macs, iPod, Zune, Zen, iPhone, RAZR and BlackBerry. When SONY BMG is added later this month, Amazon MP3 will be the only retailer to offer customers DRM-free MP3s from all four major music labels, as well as over 33,000 independent labels. Amazon MP3 customers will discover DRM-free MP3s from SONY BMG’s vast rosters of artists representing virtually every genre of music.
“We are excited to offer Amazon MP3 customers DRM-free MP3s from SONY BMG, which represents many of the most popular musicians from the past and present,” said Bill Carr, Amazon.com Vice President for Digital Music. “Our Amazon MP3 customers will be able to choose from a full selection of DRM-free music downloads from all four major labels and over 33,000 independents that they can play on virtually any music-capable device.”
“We are excited to be working with Amazon as they continue to build new markets for digital music,” commented Thomas Hesse, President, Global Digital Business & U.S. Sales, SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT. “We are constantly exploring new ways of making our music available to consumers in the physical space, over the Internet and through mobile phones, and this initiative is the newest element of our ongoing campaign to bring our music to fans wherever they happen to be.”
Launched in September 2007, Amazon MP3 offers Earth’s Biggest Selection of a la carte DRM-free MP3 music downloads, which now includes over 3.1 million songs from more than 270,000 artists. Every song and album in the Amazon MP3 music download store is available exclusively in the MP3 format without digital rights management (DRM) software and is encoded at 256 Kbps to deliver high audio quality. Amazon MP3 customers are free to enjoy their music downloads using any hardware device, organize their music using any music management application such as iTunes(R) or Windows Media Player(TM); and burn songs to CDs for personal use.
Most songs available on Amazon MP3 are priced from 89 cents to 99 cents, with more than 1 million of the over 3.1 million songs priced at 89 cents. The top 100 bestselling songs are 89 cents, unless marked otherwise. Most albums are priced from $5.99 to $9.99. The top 100 bestselling albums are $8.99 or less, unless marked otherwise. Buying and downloading MP3s from Amazon MP3 is easy. Customers can purchase downloads using Amazon 1-Click shopping, and with the Amazon MP3 Downloader, seamlessly add their MP3s to their iTunes or Windows Media Player libraries.
Best Sellers of 2007 from Amazon.com
December 28, 2007
Amazon.com has today released it’s best of 2007 which include the bestselling, most positively reviewed, most-wished-for and favourite gift products as determined by Amazon.com customers.
Best Selling List
- Books: “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” by J.K. Rowling
- Music: “Noel” by Josh Groban
- DVD: “Planet Earth: The Complete BBC Series”
- Electronics: Canon PowerShot A570IS 7.1MP digital camera
- Home & Garden: Pyrex storage sets
- Health & Personal Care: Omron HJ-112 digital premium pedometer
- Grocery: Senseo Douwe Egberts dark roast coffee pods
- Gourmet: Starbucks assortment gift basket by Wine Country Gift Baskets
- Computers: Nokia Internet tablet PC
- Software: Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007
- Video Games: Nintendo Wii
- Apparel & Accessories: Kenneth Cole Reaction men’s Eden wool peacoat
- Shoes and handbags (Amazon.com and Endless.com): Jessica Simpson women’s Henri2 pump
- Sports & Outdoors: Perfect Pushup
- Home Improvement: Black & Decker 8-inch auto wrench
- Automotive: Actron AutoScanner diagnostic code scanner
- Jewelry: Sterling silver open double flower pendant
- Watches: LEGO kids’ watch
- Beauty: Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil
- Baby: Munchkin Mozart Cube
- Toys: Jakks EyeClops Bionic Eye
Most-Loved Products
- Books: “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” by J.K. Rowling
- Music: “One Chance” by Paul Potts
- DVD: “Planet Earth: The Complete BBC Series”
- Electronics: Garmin nüvi 350 3.5-inch portable GPS navigator
- Home & Garden: KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-quart mixer
- Health & Personal Care: Farouk CHI 1-inch ceramic flat hairstyling iron
- Grocery: McCann’s Steel Cut Oatmeal
- Gourmet: Tuscan whole milk, 1 gallon
- Computers: Apple MacBook Pro notebook PC
- Software: Apple Mac OS X version 10.5 Leopard
- Video Games: Nintendo Wii
- Apparel & Accessories: Chrome Metal Silver Mirrored Aviator Sunglasses
- Shoes and handbags (Amazon.com and Endless.com): FEED bag
- Sports & Outdoors: Perfect Pushup
- Home Improvement: Toro Ultra 12 amp electric blower/vacuum
- Automotive: Actron PocketScan diagnostic code reader
- Jewelry: Sterling silver open double flower pendant
- Watches: Invicta men’s Pro Diver Collection automatic watch
- Beauty: Bare Escentuals Get Started Kit
- Baby: Fisher-Price Rainforest Jumperoo
- Toys: Blokus Strategy board game
Most-Wished-For Products
- Books: “I Am America (And So Can You)” by Stephen Colbert
- Music: “Noel” by Josh Groban
- DVD: “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” (two-disc Special Edition)
- Electronics: Apple 4 GB iPod nano (3rd Generation)
- Home & Garden: Silpat nonstick silicone baking mat
- Health & Personal Care: Accutire programmable digital tire gauge
- Grocery: Numi’s Bouquet bamboo gift set
- Gourmet: Starbucks assortment gift basket by Wine Country Gift Basket
- Computers: Asus Eee 4G-Galaxy 7-inch PC mobile Internet device
- Software: Adobe Photoshop Elements 6
- Video Games: Nintendo Wii
- Apparel & Accessories: Red Moon women’s long-sleeve cashmere jersey V-neck sweater
- Shoes and handbags (Amazon.com and Endless.com): FEED bag
- Sports & Outdoors: Suunto T6 Wristop personal trainer with heart rate monitor
- Home Improvement: Leatherman Skeletool CX multitool
- Automotive: Accutire MS-4350B programmable digital tire gauge
- Jewelry: Sterling silver open double flower pendant
- Watches: Bulova women’s diamond chronograph watch
- Beauty: Bare Escentuals Get Started Eyes
- Baby: The First Years Sure To Comfort newborn to toddler tub
- Toys: Magnetix I-Coaster
Most Popular
- Books: “Eat, Pray, Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert
- Music: “Noel” by Josh Groban
- DVD: “Planet Earth: The Complete BBC Series”
- Electronics: Apple 4 GB iPod nano (3rd Generation)
- Home & Garden: George Foreman Next Grilleration removable-plate grill
- Health & Personal Care: Omron Pocket Pedometer
- Grocery: Numi’s Bouquet bamboo gift set
- Gourmet: “Soup’s On” gift basket by Wine Country Gift Baskets
- Computers: Apple MacBook notebook PC
- Software: Adobe Photoshop Elements 6
- Video Games: Super Mario Galaxy
- Apparel & Accessories: V Fraas women’s cashmere knit scarf and glove set
- Shoes and handbags (Amazon.com and Endless.com): Slippers International women’s Fluff Scuff slipper
- Sports & Outdoors: Garrity Power Lite 3 LED crank light
- Home Improvement: Black & Decker 8-inch auto wrench
- Automotive: LifeHammer original emergency hammer
- Jewelry: 14k gold, round diamond stud earrings
- Watches: Movado Women’s Amorosa watch
- Beauty: Burt’s Bees Head to Toe Starter Kit
- Baby: Mozart Magic Cube
- Toys: IlluStory Make Your Own Story Kit
Amazon buys into Bill Me Later
December 11, 2007
Amazon today announced it has signed an agreement with Bill Me Later, a provider of alternative payment technologies, to make the Bill Me Later option available on the amazon.com website. Amazon also announced that it is making an investment in the company
“Bill Me Later has developed a very customer-centric method to make online shopping even easier,” said Matt Swann, vice president of payments at Amazon.com. “We are pleased to make the convenience of Bill Me Later available to our tens of millions of Amazon customers.”
Bill Me Later is a convenient and secure new payment method designed for purchasing on the web or over the phone. As a credit account, Bill Me Later provides you with the flexibility to purchase without using your credit card. To request a Bill Me Later account, you do not have to complete a lengthy application prior to making a purchase. Simply select Bill Me Later at checkout to complete your request.
