Amazon and Google were able to break Apple's near monopoly in the tablet market by releasing $199 Android tablets. Now the company selling its cheap Kindle Fire tablets at a loss but makes money by selling content to Kindle users is moving the price-point even lower. Amazon, according to TechCrunch, is planning to release a $99 version of the Kindle Fire HD 7-inch before the end of the year. Notwithstanding the significant price drop, the $99 device will still have a Texas Instruments processor and the 1280x800 resolution already on the current $199 model.
What Else You Need To Know
- The $499 iPad has led the market in years but the growing popularity of low-cost tablets forced Apple to release the $329 iPad mini in November last year.
- Amazon cut the price of the original Kindle Fire tablet to $159 from $199 after unveiling the Kindle Fire HD in September, and, earlier this month, it cut the price of the 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD from $299 to $269.
Other sources
A $99 Kindle tablet would be a very disruptive move. Amazon is a quality brand. People admire and trust it. It's not like Asus, or Acer, brands that aren't as strong in the U.S.- Jay Yarow, Business Insider
It may seem a little too significant a drop to possibly be real, but Amazon has a habit of selling its tech hardware at a loss and scooping up the difference by selling ebooks, films, music and apps through its mutated Android software once you've got it home.- Kate Solomon , TechRadar
- Mobile Crunch
- Amazon Rumored To Be Working On A $99 7-Inch Kindle Fire HD
- Business Insider SAI
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Amazon Is Rumored To Be Working On A $99 Kindle, Which Would Blow Up The Tablet Market (AMZN)
A super cheap Amazon tablet is a threat to Microsoft, which is nowhere in tablets and Google, which is just starting to gain traction in tablets.
- Other
- Amazon planning to launch a $99 Kindle Fire HD, claims report
- iPhone Download Blog
- Amazon rumored stepping up tablet war with $99 Kindle Fire
- Phandroid
- Amazon to offer $99 Kindle Fire HD [RUMOR]
- BGR
- Amazon rumored to be prepping $99 Kindle Fire HD tablet
- Pocketnow
- Amazon Aiming at $100 Price for New 7-inch Kindle Fire HD?
- Tech Radar
- Will Amazon's budget 7in Kindle Fire HD scorch Google's Nexus HD plans?