Today, Amazon introduced a new member of the Kindle family - Kindle with Special Offers for $114, although the electronic book reader will include sponsored screensavers.
Kindle special offers and sponsored screensavers will display on the Kindle screensaver and on the bottom of the home screen. The new device Kindle with is now available for pre-order in the U.S. and will ship on May 3.
"We're working hard to make sure that anyone who wants a Kindle can afford one," said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com Founder and CEO. "Kindle with Special Offers is the same #1 bestselling Kindle - and it's only $114. Kindle is the best deal in consumer electronics anywhere in the world."
Buick, Olay (Procter & Gamble), Visa, and Amazon.com Reward Visa Card (Chase) are sponsoring the first series of screensavers specially-designed for Kindle's electronic ink display.
Amazon is also introducing "AdMash" - the free Kindle app and website where customers choose the most attractive display advertisements that will become Kindle sponsored screensavers. Before these advertisements can be presented to Kindle customers, they are first previewed by customers using AdMash. Users are presented with pairs of sponsored screensaver candidates and asked to select which one they prefer. The AdMash Kindle app will launch in the coming weeks - for a preview, visit www.amazon.com/aboutkindlespecialoffers.
In addition, Kindle with Special Offers customers can give Amazon hints on the style and types of sponsored screensavers they would like to see. From the Manage Your Kindle page on Amazon.com, customers can use Kindle Screensaver Preferences to indicate whether they like to see more or less screensavers that include elements such as landscapes and scenery, architecture, travel images, photography, and illustrations. Together, AdMash voting and Kindle Screensaver Preferences help Amazon present sponsored screensavers that customers find attractive.
Kindle with Special Offers includes all the same features of the third-generation Kindle, including a paper-like Pearl electronic-ink display, an 8.5 ounce body, up to one month of battery life, access to
Kindle Store and integration with free "Buy Once, Read Everywhere" Kindle apps for iPad, iPod touch, iPhone, PC, Mac, BlackBerry, Windows Phone and Android-based devices.