Amazon Stops Directly Selling Kindle Fire: Hotter Version Expected

by Holly Shoemaker

On Thursday, Amazon announced that it sold out of its Kindle Fire. This has caused many to speculate the company halted production to make way for a new model.

While Amazon never reports how many models of which Kindle it has sold, the company reported that it garnered 22 percent of the tablet market share over a nine-month period. This makes it the second most popular tablet after Apple’s iPad.

My Findings

I checked out Amazon and sure enough, consumers may buy the Kindle Fire from other sellers, but not directly from Amazon. In the “Compare Kindles,” section, Amazon no longer lists its $199 price for the Kindle Fire. More news to follow next week as Amazon should debut some new brand items at a scheduled event.

End of the e-Reader Market?

Overall, tablets have contributed to a decline in e-reader market share. ABI research reported that e-readers peaked last year and estimates that in 2012 e-readers will have sold 11 million units worldwide, down from 15 million in 2011. Still, for consumers who mainly want to read books on a device, e-readers provide a viable alternative to tablets. For those looking to decide between a tablet or e-reader, the Consumer Reports Buying Guide 2012 rankings should assist.