Amazon has moved further into the mobile phone retail business. AmazonWireless, currently in beta, allows Amazon.com customers to buy phones and service plans from AT&T and Verizon Wireless.
Online retail giant Amazon.com announced the beta
launch of AmazonWireless, a Website where consumers will be able to select
cell phones and service plans from a selection of phones from AT&T and
Verizon Wireless. The company is touting free two-day shipping and a lack of
mail-in rebate hassles as the beta site comes online.
The company said in addition to expanding selection and
adding carriers during the beta test phase, Amazon will be testing
different
features and gathering input from customers to enhance the customer
experience.
AmazonWireless currently offers more than 120 phones, ranging from
smartphones such as the BlackBerry Storm, BlackBerry Curve and the
touch-screen Samsung
Eternity to entry-level handsets for cost-conscious consumers.
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Amazon designed the service to help customers set up a new
individual plan with the two carriers (with the option of transferring your
current mobile number to your new phone) or upgrade to a new phone for your
current individual or family plan. The company said it would soon add support
for a number of additional features, such as new family plans, additional lines
for existing family plans, and the purchase of phones without any plan at all.
Currently, all phones on AmazonWireless are tied to a two-year contract with a
wireless carrier.
When users complete their AmazonWireless purchase, Amazon
will ship the phone to the user and work with the carrier to establish their
wireless service (i.e., create an account with the service plan and service
options they requested). When the customer receives the phone, they complete
the service-activation process by following Amazons instructions in the box or
reviewing their Activation Guide.
Paul Ryder, vice president of consumer electronics for
Amazon, said the company has taken its eight years experience selling cell
phones to create a new site that makes a potentially confusing transaction much
easier for customers. The step-by-step purchase process on AmazonWireless
makes it easy for customers who already have a plan to upgrade their phones. If
you want to establish new cell phone service, weve made it simple to find the
right phone, service plan and options for your needs, he said. Weve also
eliminated the technical jargon and frustrating rebate paperwork that customers
often face when buying a phone.
During the beta trial, Amazon said all customers must use
their Amazon.com account to shop at AmazonWireless or create a new account.
Phones may be returned, unopened and in the original packaging, within 30 days
of purchase. Amazon said it would pick up the tab for return shipping. In
addition, if a customer is eligible to extend their contract with their current
carrier, AmazonWireless can help users upgrade your phone. Amazon said carriers
generally approve upgrades for lines of service that are at least 22 months
into a 24-month contract and in good financial standing.
