OK Amazon, we know what you are up to!
The Evidence
- At the beginning of last year, Amazon acquired multitouch company Touchco.
- Early last year Amazon started recruiting for several positions within it’s company Lab126 which were very obviously to do with a “colour” and “WiFi” device, or devices.
- This week Amazon dropped it’s very own Android App Store which is fully separate from, and in competition with the Google Marketplace.
To me, this evidence very clearly points to Amazon developing and currently getting ready to launch it’s very own tablet device.
Why Would Amazon Do This?
To me it makes perfect sense for Amazon to do this, and I’d say the timing is bang-on too! It’s always been apparent that this year is the year of the Android tablet. There was a lot of anticipation at the end of last year surrounding Android tablet devices, and many companies showing off their stuff.
Actually, so far this year I haven’t seen anything hugely exciting in the way of Android tablets. There is nothing out there that is seriously undercutting the iPad (or indeed, now iPad 2) and at the same time providing similar or even better features. Actually, I have been kind of disappointed so far this year when it comes to exciting Android tablet releases.
Perhaps this is Amazon’s big moment. Their Kindle devices up until now have been a huge hit, and people are watching and waiting for a sexy tablet device that is as awesome as the iPad, but costs less and has the flexibility of the Android platform.
One thing that I would say on this though – is that it seems that Amazon do like to run with the low-cost devices. I think that the main reason for this is the lower the cost of the device, the more people it can reach, the more people it can reach, the more ebooks Amazon can sell.
Breeding a Culture of Loyalty
One great thing that Amazon have been doing extremely well is what I would call “Breeding a culture of loyalty”. You don’t buy an Amazon Kindle device to then go and buy ebooks from another source, you buy your Kindle knowing full well that you are going to purchase your books quickly and easily from a source that you can trust: Amazon!
In doing this, they have set themselves up really nicely for releasing a Kindle tablet to go nicely with their app store. They have already directed their customers in such a way that they will instinctively do what they always have. Keep it simple, buy from the source they trust: Amazon!
Let’s face it. People love and trust the Amazon brand, and I think that the movements that Amazon have been making are super smart.
As I keep saying every time I talk about Amazon on the blogs. Keep and eye on this company. They are really going to be continuing to kick some serious butt!
What Do You Think?
Now it’s your turn. Amazon Kindle Tablet, to me it’s clear that it’s going to happen. What do you think it’s going to be like?
James Brooks
James Brooks is a professional blogger, web designer and social media consultant based on the South West coast of England. As well as being a co-founder of GPlusTuts, a blog about Google+, James also enjoys blogging about technology, food and tea!
It would seem that they might be thinking about this to compete with the Nook, since it also runs Android. I know several people who chose the Nook over the Kindle for that reason.
Interesting, Chase. I hadn’t really looked much into the Nook before now. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
My guess is that they are going to keep the kindle branding so it’ll be “the kindle 4 with android”
Yeh, I think you are spot on there.