As expected, Amazon announced its new Kindle
lineup on Thursday. The standout item, designed to compete with Apple's
iPads, but at a lower price point, is the Kindle
Fire HD 8.9" 4G LTE Wireless for $499. Amazon expects the item to ship
on November 20, 2012. However, there is one issue with the device – it has yet
to receive Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) approval.
Potential
Roadblock?
I received the email from Amazon shortly after the company’s announcement
on Thursday. The email said the following, “The 4G device has not been
authorized as required by the FCC. This device is not, and may not be, offered
for sale or lease, or sold or leased, until authorization is obtained.”
The FCC must approve tablets and other devices before companies start selling
them. The FCC checks to ensure electronics do not interfere with signals and
that they adhere to safety standards. Amazon expects to receive approval by the
November 20, 2012 shipping date, but its move to announce a non-approved tablet
seems unusual. At the same time, the company clearly has faith in its direction
and expects to receive the required approval in time.
My Additional Findings
Amazon
has once again updated its “Compare Kindles” section and the Kindle Fire HD
is now available for $199 with16 GB of storage, and the tablet will start
shipping on September 14, 2012. The Kindle Fire has a list price of $159, which will also ship on
September 14, 2012.
e-Readers Not Forgotten
Amazon
also introduced the Kindle
Paperwhite, showing consumers the company still
believes in its e-readers. E-readers still provide a
good choice for those mainly interested in online books.
Concluding Thoughts
Amazon
designed the Kindle brand for expansion. Its ability to offer different price
points depending on a user’s needs and budget should appeal to a larger
consumer base. While that in itself differentiates Amazon from Apple, Amazon
has remained true to its profit model. While Apple makes more money off its
devices, Amazon remains focused on content and accessories, showing that it
understands the company’s revenue stream. Owning a device is only the start –
customers need to build libraries, stream video and download apps, to name a
few, to truly get the most out of owning a tablet.
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