New service for kids from Amazon.com
Amazon.com is rapidly moving into the kid’s market place and wants to dominate the age 3 to 8 group. It announced an online service known as FreeTime Unlimited that runs on its Kindle Fire and Kindle Fire HD. The service cost $4.99 a month for a child and $9.99 a month for a family membership. For those who are Amazon Prime members, monthly service price drop to $2.99 and $6.99, respectively. Youngsters will have unlimited access to G-rated books, games and films. Some notable big names included in the package are SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer from Nickelodeon, content from Walt Disney, Sesame Street and DC Comics. Service also provides parental control and control over online purchases.
Introduction of the new service will put Amazon.com in competition with Hulu Plus and Netflix. At a time tablets are making inroads with kids, Amazon.com is sure to succeed in its new venture. Just within the third quarter of 2012, 27 million tablets have been sold. Amazon.com is not alone in the kid’s market place. Toys R Us just released its Tabeo, a 7-inch tablet with Wi-Fi, games, books and video. LeapFrog Enterprise has a LeapPad. All are retailing around $149.