Adding ads

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Amazon have recently announced that they will be selling a reduced price, ad supported version of their Kindle (initially in the US, but a worldwide roll-out will surely follow). When I first read that I wasn’t quite sure what to think. We all know that a lot of software has a free version that is ad supported, and accept that as a necessary evil (though why anybody thinks I will click on an ad in the middle of an exciting game of Angry Birds and thus leave the game to go shopping for phones is beyond me). Personally, I get annoyed with adverts when they are placed in an area that stops me from properly using the software (Angry Birds – I’m looking at you): otherwise, I understand the need for adverts in order to provide me with free software.

But this is different.

As opposed to having ads in place of paying for a product, Amazon will be providing ads as well as paying for a product (albeit at a reduced rate). If successful then this could herald the advent of a two tier pricing for pretty much everything, and before you know it, adverts will bombard you wherever you are, whatever you’re doing. To their credit, Amazon have said that the ads will only appear at the bottom of the home screen and in place of the screen saver picture displayed when the device is off (real shame there – I love the iconic authors displayed; gives the thing a touch of class).

I have spoken to a few Kindle users and none of them would go for a cheaper ad supported Kindle (I wouldn’t either) – though I suspect that this stance will be swayed by the saving to be made.

The only question that remains, assuming this initiative to be a success, is: how far will adverts permeate our lives?

Dave
Your Cloud Your Way

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