Is a $99 Kindle Fire on the way from Amazon? Recent rumors suggest the internet retail and tech juggernaut could be working on a cheaper version of the Kindle Fire HD 7-inch model, available for the low price point.
A report today, March 20, from Tech Crunch , notes that they've heard a $99 version of the Kindle Fire HD will be shipping later this year. The report adds that this lower-priced version of the tablet will have a TI processor and 1280x800 resolution, leaving many to wonder how the cost will be lowered.
However, Tom Mainelli, Director of IDC Research talks about how Amazon can still make money despite offering such a low price on their device, saying:
"The infrastructure is definitely in place for Amazon to go even lower. If they can sell the product at roughly what it costs to build, that fits their long-term vision to make money selling you content on that device. It’s entirely possible – physically possible – to create a device that costs $99, particularly at the scale that Amazon would do it."
Currently, Amazon.com offers several versions of the Kindle Fire HD including the 7-inch models with 16GB storage space starting at just $199. The larger 8.9-inch versions of the tablet recently saw their prices lowered in what many feels is a way for Amazon to sell more of these particular devices which have shown less popularity amongst consumers when compared to the smaller models.
Among Amazon's biggest competitors are other tablet makers including Apple with the iPad lineup, and Google with its Nexus 7. This latest move could bring increased competition to them, as well as to various third party tablet-makers out of Asia who offer low price points.
Would you spend $99 on a Kindle Fire HD tablet, or do you think the low price will somehow sacrifice quality?
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