Deliver Your News to the World

Amazon Web Services Gives Software Developers First-Ever Access to Data and Technology from Amazon.ca and Amazon.fr


WEBWIRE

SEATTLE, WA -- Jan. 21, 2005 -- Developers Can Now Build Web Sites and Applications Using All Six Amazon-Branded Sites Worldwide

A new offering released today by Amazon Web Services (AWS) gives software developers first-ever access to data and technology from Amazon’s Web sites for Canada (Amazon.ca) and France (Amazon.fr). Available at no charge, E-Commerce Service (ECS) now lets developers innovate and generate revenue from Web sites and applications that serve customers and sellers on all six Amazon-branded sites worldwide (Amazon.ca, Amazon.com, Amazon.co.jp, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Amazon.fr). All the documentation, code samples, and sample applications developers need to begin using ECS for Amazon.ca and Amazon.fr or any other Amazon-branded site is available at www.amazon.com/webservices.

Amazon.ca and Amazon.fr accept the currencies of their countries, offer free shipping on orders over $39 CDN and 20 EUR respectively, offer shipping from locations that provide faster delivery times, use the countries’ languages, and feature English and French-language media products. The release of ECS for Amazon.ca and Amazon.fr means that developers can innovate and make money by building applications specifically for these sites or broader applications that integrate all Amazon-branded sites worldwide. For example, developers can:

-- Earn a referral fee as an Amazon Associate when users of their sites make purchases on any Amazon site

-- More effectively price their products for sale on any Amazon Marketplace

-- Build and sell applications that help other Associates or Marketplace sellers take advantage of AWS

“The chance to open up Inside Messenger (www.insidemessenger.com) to all of Amazon’s sites and customers around the world is a big opportunity for my business,” said independent software developer Riaan van Schoor who participated in the ECS beta for Canada and France. “Anyone can now use Inside Messenger to shop any Amazon site with the major instant messaging networks, and I receive a referral fee when they make their purchase with Amazon.”

ECS 4.0 was released last October for Amazon.com, Amazon.co.jp, Amazon.de, and Amazon.co.uk. With today’s release of ECS for Amazon.ca and Amazon.fr, the following features are now available for all six Amazon-branded sites:

-- Detailed attributes and pricing on tens of millions of products in all categories.

-- Overwhelming majority of images from Amazon’s massive image collection.

-- Customer reviews for each product.

-- Advanced search functionality, which allows users to search by numerous attributes, including brand, price, and category.

-- Amazon.com Shopping Cart functionality, which allows shoppers on developers’ sites or other applications to add multiple items to their carts before proceeding to Amazon.com for final checkout processing.

“This release is a direct response to feedback from our growing developer community,” said Andy Jassy, Amazon Vice President of Web Services. “Some developers already have applications that they want to extend to include Canada and France, while others have creative ideas that target customers from those countries. This release addresses those needs and will hopefully enable even more success and innovation by developers.”

About Amazon.com

Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN), a Fortune 500 company based in Seattle, opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth’s Biggest Selection. Amazon.com seeks to be Earth’s most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible prices. Amazon.com and other sellers offer millions of unique new, refurbished and used items in categories such as health and personal care, jewelry and watches, gourmet food, sports and outdoors, apparel and accessories, books, music, DVDs, electronics and office, toys and baby, and home and garden.

Amazon.com and its affiliates operate seven Web sites: www.amazon.com, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de, www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.jp, www.amazon.ca, and www.joyo.com.

As used herein, “Amazon.com,” “we,” “our” and similar terms include Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.

About Amazon.ca

Amazon.ca (www.amazon.ca) is part of the global family of Amazon Web sites that have become known for great prices, selection and convenience. Amazon.ca customers can find and discover millions of English and French books, CDs, videos and DVDs as well as a vast array of software, video games and consoles -- all at everyday low prices. Amazon.ca also offers FREE Super Saver Shipping, available on orders of $39 or more delivered to the same Canadian address. Amazon.ca sources products directly from Canadian publishers and distributors, ensuring a rich offering of Canadian titles and content. Features such as original editorial reviews in English and French and product recommendations help Amazon.ca customers find the right products for them among the site’s broad selection. Through Amazon Marketplace, Amazon.ca customers can conveniently buy and sell used, new and collectible merchandise on the same pages where Amazon.ca sells those items new.

To ensure all orders are delivered to customers quickly and efficiently, Amazon.ca works with Canada Post, one of the world’s most progressive postal companies. Orders placed at Amazon.ca are fulfilled and shipped from within Canada by Assured Logistics, a part of the Canada Post Group of Companies.

Amazon.ca is the trading name of Amazon.com.ca Inc., an affiliate of Amazon.com Inc.

Amazon.fr

The Internet site Amazon.fr opened in cyberspace in August 2000.

About Amazon Services, Inc.

Amazon Services is a subsidiary of Amazon.com, Inc. that makes the technology and services that power Amazon.com available to third-parties. Amazon Web Services is a division of Amazon Services.

Forward Looking Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results may differ significantly from management’s expectations. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, risks related to potential future losses, significant amount of indebtedness, competition, management of growth, potential fluctuations in operating results, fulfillment center optimization, seasonality, commercial agreements, acquisitions, and strategic transactions, foreign exchange rates, system interruption, international expansion, consumer trends, inventory, limited operating history, government regulation and taxation, fraud, and new business areas. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com’s financial results is included in Amazon.com’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, and all subsequent filings.



WebWireID1122





This news content was configured by WebWire editorial staff. Linking is permitted.

News Release Distribution and Press Release Distribution Services Provided by WebWire.