If you have the opinion that there aren’t enough monthly subscription based media streaming services available, then Amazon has listened to those concerns in an attempt to compete with other services on the market by making their Amazon Prime service available on a subscription basis. Amazon had previously offered the Prime service at a $79 per year price point, but are in the early stages of testing out a more relaxed monthly offering that comes in line with the likes of Hulu and Netflix.
In addition to the media streaming that comes attached to the Prime service, subscribers also get a number of other notable benefits that may just make the monthly $7.99 price tag worth it. Subscribers will get unlimited free one-day delivery on eligible items from the online retailer, as well a reduced rate for express delivery items that guarantee delivery before 1PM the following day. Access is also granted to over 200,000 book titles that can be downloaded and used as often as the subscriber likes.
Unlike other more established household services like Netflix, Amazon is yet to take the plunge and scrap out a deal with Apple to offer a dedicated Prime app on the Apple TV, so that immediately puts it behind the competition. However, the online retailer had rather recently pushed out Instant Video iPad app that not only looks beautiful, but is also extremely functional and offers a great streaming experience to users. That content can then be sent to an Apple TV unit via AirPlay so it isn’t all doom and gloom.
The monthly subscription isn’t showing up everywhere just yet, with some locations still showing the $79/year option as the only method of joining the service. For those who are adamant that Prime is the way forward for your media needs and are willing to commit to a year of usage, then it makes more sense to pay the $79 as the $7.99 monthly option works out at closer to $100 for the same twelve months.
Although offerings like Netflix and Hulu are classed as the first port of call in the United States for this type of service, recent reports have shown that Amazon is gaining traction in the market. The option of a free one month trial and the additional attached benefits certainly won’t harm the service.
You can jump onto the Amazon Prime bandwagon and start your free trial by heading over to this link.
You can follow us on Twitter, add us to your circle on Google+ or like our Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google, Apple and the web.
