Amazon's browser-based MP3 store has been optimized for the iPhone and iPod touch, allowing users to more easily purchase songs through their mobile Safari browser.
Amazon's catalog of 22 million songs, now available on iOS devices at amazon.com/mp3, competes with Apple's own iTunes Store. While Apple has a dedicated iTunes application on iOS devices for selling content, users must open a browser to purchase through Amazon because of Apple's App Store rules.
Music purchases through Amazon are automatically saved to a user's "Cloud Player" library. Those tracks can be downloaded or played instantly from any iPhone, iPod touch or iPad using the official Amazon Cloud Player app.
"Since the launch of the Amazon Cloud Player app for iPhone and iPod touch, a top request from customers has been the ability to buy music from Amazon right from their devices," said Steve Boom, Vice President of Amazon Music. "For the first time ever, iOS users have a way do that — now they can access Amazon's huge catalog of music, features like personalized recommendations, deals like albums for $5, songs for $0.69, and they can buy their music once and use it everywhere."
Features of the Amazon MP3 mobile store include:
- Built on HTML5 and designed for iPhone and iPod touch.
- Access to everyday deals like $5 albums, $0.69 songs, and free songs from artists on the rise.
- Individualized recommendations based on purchase history.
- Immediate availability and seamless playback of purchases in the Amazon Cloud Player app.
- Free storage of all Amazon MP3 purchases in Amazon Cloud Player.
The Amazon Cloud Player application launched last June on the iOS App Store. Amazon does not sell songs through the app and requires users to launch a browser because Apple takes a 30 percent cut of all content sold through applications available in the iOS App Store.