Amazon amends Amazon Coin for Android

In-game purchases are a major element of the modern gaming world – an alternative source of revenue, and less of a barrier to entry than app pricing. Why do I mention this? Amazon is extending “Amazon Coin” functionality to all Android devices with the Amazon Appstore installed.

The idea is to make it easier for (Amazon Appstore) customers to buy and enjoy Android apps, games, and in-app items. There will also be savings on offer, says Amazon, in that people will be able to save up to 10% on apps and games by purchasing Amazon Coins (developers will still get their full 70% revenue share).

Mike Hines writes:

Since the launch of Amazon Coins in the US, UK, and Germany in 2013, customers have already purchased hundreds of millions of Amazon Coins and are actively using them on Kindle Fire devices, representing real dollars to developers.

Now, users of the Amazon Appstore on Android will be able to use Amazon Coins to purchase apps, games, and a broad range of in-app items on any Android device running the Amazon Appstore in the US, UK, or Germany. If a customer is already a Kindle Fire user, he or she will automatically see their existing Coins balance on their other Android devices in addition to their Kindle devices.

He walks through the steps to check your device availability, “to make sure your app is available to as many Coins-enabled customers as possible”.

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Amazon supposedly readying its Android set-top box for a March release

This isn’t the first time we’ve been told that Amazon is preparing to launch an Android based set-top TV box, we’ve been hearing about the thing for nearly a whole year. The last time this rumor popped up, the company was expected to ship such a device in time for the holiday season.The all-knowing industry sources have now suggested that Amazon is targeting a March release for its TV device, which may offer some much needed competition to devices like Apple TV and Roku’s range of products.Again, the sources collaborate the story that Amazon’s box will be running on Android, although a specific version hasn’t been confirmed, but it’s highly likely that Amazon would keep its own forked version of Android that it uses with its Kindle products. Not to mention that keeping a similar operating system would help keep existing third-party developers on-board.A set top box has long seemed like a sensible move for Amazon, given the vast catalogue of video content that the company offers. Interestingly, Amazon has just rebranded and combined its Lovefilm Instant service into Amazon Prime Instant Video. This is pure speculation, but perhaps Amazon is reshuffling its services in preparation for a new product launch. The timings just seems right, given that a March release is right around the corner. There’s also the rumoured that Amazon is set to launch its own Android powered gaming console to throw into the mix. Perhaps Amazon is preparing an all-in one set-top box, offering up a full range of media services, including gaming?

There’s still no official word from Amazon on the matter, so who knows if we’ll ever actually get to see Amazon’s set-top box.

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