*AMAZON.COM TO OFFER LINKS TO OTHER NET STORES - REPORT 12/07/98 [Newsbytes,615
words]
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1998 DEC 7 (NB) -- By Bob Woods, Newsbytes.
Internet retailing giant Amazon.com Inc. [NASDAQ:AMZN] is reportedly
readying a new service that will refer customers to other Net-based
retailing sites for goods and services the book/music/video e-commerce
concern does not sell.
The New York Times, in quoting people briefed by the company on the
plan, said Amazon plans early next week to arrange "Shop the Web" links
throughout its online store. The links will let consumers search outside
Amazon.com for items in categories like apparel, toys, computers and
travel. Vendors would include L.L. Bean, The Gap, F.A.O. Schwarz and
Internet-only retailers like Brainplay.com.
While Amazon.com did not directly comment to the Times on the plan,
a spokesperson said the company has not exactly hidden its intention
to offer such a service, especially with its purchase of Junglee Corp.
earlier this year. Junglee makes Internet shopping technology that
uses an advance Web-based database technology that can help shoppers
find millions of products on the Internet.
At the time, analysts said Amazon.com's buys of both Junglee and
PlanetAll, which provides a unique Web-based address book, calendar and
reminder service, signaled its intention to shift its business to an
Internet shopping portal-based concern.
Last month, Amazon.com expanded its horizons beyond books and music
when it opened its video and gift stores (Newsbytes, Nov. 17, 1998).
The gift store will sell personal electronics, games, gadgets and toys
for young and old alike.
While this version of the gift store will stay open through the
holiday season, the shop will offer other items for bar mitzvahs,
graduations and other occasions, Amazon.com spokesperson Bill Curry
told Newsbytes. Amazon might branch out into selling items besides
books, music and video on a permanent basis, though. "Our customers will
decide if we will sell other items," Curry said.
Jupiter Communications' Group Director of digital commerce Nicole
Vanderbilt told Newsbytes last month that Amazon.com is "wise" to add
gift items around the holiday season, rather than "go deep" with a full
range of goods. Vanderbilt also said Amazon should try to get "more
revenue out of the customers they've done such a good job at acquiring,"
by selling them both gifts and videos. Starting both the gift shop and
video store during the holiday buying season was also a good move by
Amazon, Vanderbilt said.
Amazon.com said its new video store, meantime, will offer more than
60,000 theatrical and general-interest videos, along with over 2,000
DVD. Amazon.com's search technology will help power the area, which will
also include editorial content. All titles are available for shipping
within 24 hours of placing an order, company officials said.
Amazon's Internet Movie Database, which Amazon acquired earlier this
year, will make up part of the store's editorial content.
Amazon.com is at amazon.com on the Web.
Reported By Newsbytes News Network, newsbytes.com .
(19981207/WIRES ONLINE, BUSINESS/AMAZON3/PHOTO/)
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