Amazon have figured out a new distributed way of flogging their wares, through mobile apps on Kindle Fire and other Android devices. Today they released their new Mobile Associates API which enables developers to merchandise physical and digital items from Amazon.com within their apps and games.
Eric Hautemont, founder and CEO of Days of Wonder who create digital games and physical board games welcomed the move saying “Fans are going to love the ability to have a beautifully crafted physical board game shipped directly from Amazon and delivered right to their homes, all with just a tap of 1-Click purchasing without ever leaving their Kindle Fire“.
The Mobile Associates API is an extension of Amazon Associates – Amazon’s affiliate program. Imagine a developer of a and fitness app offering their customers the ability to purchase vitamins, supplements and fitness gear within the app, directly from Amazon. It offers the customer a more relevant experience than traditional adverts and provides the developer with a new source of revenue. Developers earn up to 6% on qualifying in-app customer purchases.
Whilst this may take some time to translate into sales from Amazon in the UK, selling Amazon products off Amazon is a smart move. If Amazon can get someone else to punt their products to consumers who could be actively engaged and interested sales should roll in. The chances are that long term you’ll only benefit if your products are in FBA.
It’s unlikely you’ll be able to control getting your products exposed in games or apps, but if you’re a developer there could be some cash to be made and a new way to monetise free apps.
