Amazon optimizes MP3 store for iPad, iPhone
Amazon has just announced the launch of an iOS-optimized MP3 web store via mobile Safari. The HTML-5 mobile store allows an easy access point for Amazon to sell its songs to iOS users while skirting Apple's 30 percent cut of sales of items sold through iOS apps. The move is a clear sign that Amazon wants to go after music sales to iOS users, most of whom currently buy their songs through the iTunes Music Store.
For more than a year Amazon has offered its Amazon Cloud Player app on the App Store. That app, however, does not sell music and only allows users to stream and re-download songs purchased from Amazon from outside the app.
I've only had a chance to play around with the new web store for a few minutes, but its nicely done and offers many of the features of the iTunes Store including song previews and the ability to enter gift card codes right through the storefront. Users who want to try out the new store can go to www.amazon.com/mp3 in Safari on their iOS device.
For all the details, check out Amazon's press release below.
Show full PR text
Amazon MP3 Store Now Optimized for iPhone and iPod touch: Amazon's 22-Million Song Catalog Available to iPhone and iPod touch Users for the First Time
Buy once and enjoy everywhere!-All MP3s purchased from Amazon are stored for free in customers' Cloud Player accounts and can be enjoyed on iPhones, iPads, iPods, Kindle Fire, Android phones tablets, Sonos, Roku, or any web browser
SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Jan. 17, 2013– (NASDAQ: AMZN) – Amazon.com, Inc. today announced the launch of the Amazon MP3 store optimized specifically for iPhone and iPod touch. For the first time ever, iPhone and iPod touch users can discover and buy digital music from Amazon's 22-million song catalog using the Safari browser. Customers also have access to favorite Amazon features like personalized recommendations, best-seller lists andAmazon customer ratings. Music purchases are automatically saved to customers' Cloud Player libraries and can be downloaded or played instantly from any iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Kindle Fire, Android phone or tablet, Roku, Sonos home entertainment system, or any web browser, giving customers the freedom to enjoy more music, from more devices than any other major cloud music service.
"Since the launch of the Amazon Cloud Player app for iPhone and iPod touch, a top request from customers has been the ability to buy music from Amazon right from their devices. For the first time ever, iOS users have a way do that – now they can access Amazon's huge catalog of music, features like personalized recommendations, deals like albums for $5, songs for $0.69, and they can buy their music once and use it everywhere," said Steve Boom, Vice President of Amazon Music.
Features of the Amazon MP3 store on the mobile web browser include:
The Amazon MP3 mobile website for iPhone and iPod touches is built on HTML5, which means customers can make purchases directly from the Amazon MP3 mobile website at www.amazon.com/mp3 on their iPhones and iPod touches
Selection of over 22 million songs and over two million albums at everyday low prices
Access to everyday deals like $5 albums, $0.69 songs, and free songs from artists on the rise
Individualized recommendations based on purchase history
Immediate availability and seamless playback of purchases in the Amazon Cloud Player app
Free storage of all Amazon MP3 purchases in Amazon Cloud Player
Customers can begin shopping the Amazon MP3 store from their iPhone and iPod touch web browsers today athttp://www.amazon.com/mp3.
