Amazon new launch event June 18th - Page 11

tubemonkey · 06-18-2014, 06:52 PM

Amazon's Smartphone Is Just Too Expensive

Quote:

Amazon's new smartphone features some cool new technology, but probably the most surprising thing about the device is its high price.

Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s founder and CEO, revealed the price of the Fire Phone at the end of a press conference here on Wednesday, sparking a wave of commentary on Twitter.

The phone, which will be exclusive to AT&T and be available next month, will start at $199 with a two-year contract for the 32-gigabyte model. It will cost $649.99 without a contract. For a limited time, customers can also get a year of Amazon Prime, the company's $99 loyalty program, thrown in.

If those numbers sound familiar, that's because they are. That's the standard two-year contract pricing for the base models of Apple's iPhone 5S and Samsung's Galaxy S5, the flagship phones from the two companies that absolutely dominate smartphone sales in the U.S.

And that's the problem.

Many analysts, pundits and reporters, including myself, thought that Amazon would employ a similar strategy it's used for other hardware: sell the device at cost, or close to cost, and make money when people buy eBooks, video games, movies, TV shows and coffee filters.

QuantumIguana · 06-18-2014, 07:15 PM

I have a prepaid cell phone, and I think I'll stick with it. If Amazon could come up with a way to deliver cheap cell phone service, I'd consider switching.

daffy4u · 06-18-2014, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Amazon's Smartphone Is Just Too Expensive

The off contract price is way too high but the on contract price seems to be a wash. $99 for Prime plus 1000 Amazon coins or a $100 credit covers the $199 contract price.

I'm still holding out for the 64GB Moto X + 1 off contact but if the features of the Fire phone find their way into the next gen Fire HDXYZ whatever, I may buy an Amazon tablet again.

jswinden · 06-18-2014, 07:32 PM

They should have named this phone more appropriately. I'm thinking the Amazon Advertisement would have made the most sense because it is merely a big fricking advertisement gadget. I bet the darn thing will drive owners nuts with constant alert messages about crap Amazon wants to sell them. Maybe it will provide an electric shock if the owner dares to purchase anything from any company other than Amazon.

tubemonkey · 06-18-2014, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daffy4u

The off contract price is way too high but the on contract price seems to be a wash. $99 for Prime plus 1000 Amazon coins or a $100 credit covers the $199 contract price.

1,000 coins = $10

Amazon should've priced the unlocked version like a Nexus or Moto. If they did, then I'd get one.

user743 · 06-18-2014, 07:48 PM

WARNING Amazon can do whatever it wants with "your" phone (much more then the kindle). I'll leave it up to you to figure out what that means.

daffy4u · 06-18-2014, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

1,000 coins = $10

Amazon should've priced the unlocked version like a Nexus or Moto. If they did, then I'd get one.

Thanks for the correction. So much for the "wash".

Sydney's Mom · 06-18-2014, 08:58 PM

I was intrigued, but AT&T was a deal killer. My husband had AT&T-had to go outside and sit under a tree to get reception.

sirmaru · 06-18-2014, 10:07 PM

It looks like I'm the only poster in this thread who would have purchased the Fire Phone. Unfortunately, I'm bound up with the ATT Samsung Galaxy s5 for TWO YEARS.

This is not like buying a Kindle PW or HDX for less than $ 200 and no contract. These smart phones run between $ 100 and $ 200 immediately with a 2 year contract for the rest up to $ 400 additional.

Unless Amazon convinces and pays part of an ATT special offer to switch contracts. I doubt if these phones will match the Kindles in sales. So far there is no sign of any deal like this.

By the way, here is a side by side comparison of the Fire Phone, Galaxy s5 and LG G3:

http://www.phonearena.com/news/Amazo...arison_id57285

Fbone · 06-18-2014, 11:23 PM

Am I correct in that $60/month is AT&T's cheapest Smartphone plan?

tubemonkey · 06-18-2014, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirmaru

It looks like I'm the only poster in this thread who would have purchased the Fire Phone.

And that's because Amazon decided it should make huge profits on this phone. They're just as greedy as Apple, HTC, LG, and Samsung.

tubemonkey · 06-18-2014, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sydney's Mom

I was intrigued, but AT&T was a deal killer. My husband had AT&T-had to go outside and sit under a tree to get reception.

What's wrong with that? Don't you guys like sitting in the snow in the winter?

WillysJeepMan · 06-19-2014, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirmaru

It looks like I'm the only poster in this thread who would have purchased the Fire Phone. Unfortunately, I'm bound up with the ATT Samsung Galaxy s5 for TWO YEARS.

Not surprising. Your devotion to Amazon takes a back seat to no one... not even to the most ardent Apple fan.

rkw · 06-19-2014, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

No Google.

I am a loyal Amazon customer, have been a Prime member since it was new. While I will remain one I cannot abide such a device that not only locks me in to something far more costly than my current solution (Metro PCS @ $46/mo) it limits my freedom in using the device I buy.

I had been waiting, not too anxiously I might add, for today before buying a new phone...I bought the new Moto G LTE for $219, from Amazon of course. It's more phone that I need really, though I would have prefered a Note 3 (I use a Note 8 for work already) I opted for the Moto G LTE.

This Fire-whatever, is different but nothing about it screams worth the price to me. I'll stick with my next year's $99 for Prime and buying a few more grocery items via Amazon Pantry and thanks but "no thanks" on this phone.

Actually it's like the original Kindles, about $300 over priced to move in large volumes. Amazon wants to make their commissions on the phone contracts...it means they will be earning at minimum $500-$700/2-yr deal give or take a bit...

For me no phone is worth more than the $200 I spent today. If I need more I'll buy a full computer for the same 700-bones they want for this phone. I am sure there will be plenty for whom the "shiny" has worn off the iPhone who will be happy within the new garden in town, but not me...

Jessica Lares · 06-19-2014, 02:08 AM

I was able to get my iPhone 5S 64GB for $70 on the AT&T Next thing (we have a huge 10GB package which isn't bad for the three of us on it). So I could easily just trade it in for this, but I'm not. I have all the Amazon stuff I want on it already, and everything else on my Paperwhite.

I think going from a Samsung Galaxy S5 to the Fire is a huge mistake. There are much better choices if you must upgrade to something different. Like the HTC Ones and LGs.

No doubt most of these are going to end up on Craiglist and eBay within a week of it getting into people's hands.

06-18-2014, 10:07 PM	#159
sirmaru Wizard Posts: 2,426 Karma: 6561538 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: Kindle PW 2013, HDX 2013, Galaxy S5 2014	It looks like I'm the only poster in this thread who would have purchased the Fire Phone. Unfortunately, I'm bound up with the ATT Samsung Galaxy s5 for TWO YEARS. This is not like buying a Kindle PW or HDX for less than $ 200 and no contract. These smart phones run between $ 100 and $ 200 immediately with a 2 year contract for the rest up to $ 400 additional. Unless Amazon convinces and pays part of an ATT special offer to switch contracts. I doubt if these phones will match the Kindles in sales. So far there is no sign of any deal like this. By the way, here is a side by side comparison of the Fire Phone, Galaxy s5 and LG G3: http://www.phonearena.com/news/Amazo...arison_id57285 Last edited by sirmaru; 06-18-2014 at 10:18 PM.

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06-18-2014, 07:15 PM	#152
QuantumIguana Philosopher Posts: 2,034 Karma: 18736532 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2 gen, Kindle Fire 1st Gen, Kindle Touch	I have a prepaid cell phone, and I think I'll stick with it. If Amazon could come up with a way to deliver cheap cell phone service, I'd consider switching.

06-18-2014, 07:32 PM	#154
jswinden Nameless Being	They should have named this phone more appropriately. I'm thinking the Amazon Advertisement would have made the most sense because it is merely a big fricking advertisement gadget. I bet the darn thing will drive owners nuts with constant alert messages about crap Amazon wants to sell them. Maybe it will provide an electric shock if the owner dares to purchase anything from any company other than Amazon.

06-18-2014, 07:48 PM	#156
user743 Addict Posts: 243 Karma: 44444 Join Date: Mar 2014 Device: Kindle PW2 special offers removed by Amazon for FREE	WARNING Amazon can do whatever it wants with "your" phone (much more then the kindle). I'll leave it up to you to figure out what that means.

06-18-2014, 08:58 PM	#158
Sydney's Mom Wizard Posts: 2,899 Karma: 6995721 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Idaho, on the side of a mountain Device: Kindle Oasis, Fire 3d Gen and 5th Gen and Samsung Tab S	I was intrigued, but AT&T was a deal killer. My husband had AT&T-had to go outside and sit under a tree to get reception.

06-18-2014, 11:23 PM	#160
Fbone Is that a sandwich? Posts: 8,296 Karma: 101697116 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Nook Glowlight Plus	Am I correct in that $60/month is AT&T's cheapest Smartphone plan?

06-19-2014, 02:08 AM	#165
Jessica Lares Wizard Posts: 2,240 Karma: 5759170 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Near Dallas, Texas, USA Device: iPad Mini, iPod Touch (5th gen)	I was able to get my iPhone 5S 64GB for $70 on the AT&T Next thing (we have a huge 10GB package which isn't bad for the three of us on it). So I could easily just trade it in for this, but I'm not. I have all the Amazon stuff I want on it already, and everything else on my Paperwhite. I think going from a Samsung Galaxy S5 to the Fire is a huge mistake. There are much better choices if you must upgrade to something different. Like the HTC Ones and LGs. No doubt most of these are going to end up on Craiglist and eBay within a week of it getting into people's hands.