Amazon 3D Smart Phone

There has been increased level talks that Amazon is getting ready to manufacture and release 3D Smart Phones from its Lab126 initiative, as per WallStreet. 

It is reported that Amazon is "developing a wide-ranging line-up of gadgets," including two smartphones, one of which will have a 3D screen. Citing multiple anonymous sources, the Journal says the 3D-capable smartphone will not require special glasses and may even let users navigate just by moving their eyes.

In addition to the two smartphone models, Amazon is also said to be working on a device for streaming music and a set-top box, the latter of which was also reported by Bloomberg BusinessWeek last month

The high-end smartphone has a screen that enables users to see 3D images without special glasses, people familiar with the company's plans told the newspaper. The smartphone would use retina-tracking to project images that float above the screen and appear in 3D from all angles, according to the sources.

Not surprisingly, Amazon is not commenting on the reports. Wall Street doesn't seem too sure what to make of the 3D smartphone idea. Amazon's stock price jumped from $258.80 to $263.50 before settling back to $260 in Thursday trading.

Online Shopping Hits All-time High

US online shopping has hit alltime high during last week. For the span of little over last 45 days, the total online shopping is recorded as $32 Billion ! This is 15% increase from last year. Last week's online spending itself is a huge $6.3 Billion with another $6 Billion estimated for the remainder of the year. 

5 year comparison of online sales 

ComScore, a leader in measuring the digital world, today released the findings from 1st November to 18th December 2011. 

So called economic slowdown (not saying recession), growth in unemployment, imbalance in global economic outlook and trade balances, debate on additional taxation etc are no more reflected on the shopping spree. This looks like a positve sentiment and outlook for 2012. Organizations and individuals has reserves, improved spending capacity and well planned budget starting the New Year 2012.

Smart Retailers Young Shoppers and Deal Values

Black Friday and Cyber Monday this 2011 season has opened eyes of retailers, marketing companies and young shoppers. Surge in sales year over year is due to that with economy and buying power not changing much.

According to The NPD Group, Best Buy was the fourth most frequently shopped retailer behind full-line merchants Walmart, Target and Amazon, which sell a much wider variety of products. Best Buy also enjoyed the highest conversion rate, with more than 58 percent of shoppers actually making purchases, compared with just 38 percent last year, representing the largest gain among the four rivals.

Some of the smart retailers put their efforts on internet medium, attract the new and young buyers and made it appear that these deals exist only for few days around now. However most of the deals are continuing even after a week. It is smart thinking from the retailers.

Independant buying decisions from young shoppers facilitated further. Percentage of young people getting employed (ages between 17 and 24) has gone up this year. Mobile as a medium of marketing is right on to target this group.  They are seeing future value with these purchases. 'Big surge in purchases through small devices' - many report this.

Some of the giant companies such as Apple, Amazon, eBay offering discounts and deals such as free shipping have influenced the finicky customers in their favor.

ComScore has published this informative report, very interesting facts:

2011 Holiday Season To Date vs. Corresponding Days* in 2010 Non-Travel (Retail) Spending Excludes Auctions and Large Corporate Purchases Total U.S. – Home & Work Locations Source: comScore, Inc.
	Millions ($)
	2010	2011	Percent Change
November 1 – December 2	$16,257	$18,697	15%
Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 24)	$407	$479	18%
Black Friday (Nov. 25)	$648	$816	26%
Thanksgiving Weekend (Nov. 26-27)	$886	$1,031	16%
Cyber Monday (Nov. 28)	$1,028	$1,251	22%
Week Ending Dec. 2	$5,164	$5,959	15%

*Corresponding days based on corresponding shopping days (November 2 thru December 3, 2010)

Weekly Holiday Free Shipping Analysis vs. Corresponding Weeks* in 2010 Non-Travel (Retail) Spending Excludes Auctions and Large Corporate Purchases Total U.S. – Home & Work Locations Source: comScore, Inc.
Week Ending	Percentage of Transactions with Free Shipping
	2010	2011	Point Change
11/6/2011	41.8%	52.2%	+10.4
11/13/2011	44.7%	51.2%	+6.5
11/20/2011	50.2%	56.0%	+5.8
11/27/2011	55.0%	64.4%	+9.4
12/4/2011**	52.2%	63.2%	+11.0

*Corresponding weeks based on corresponding shopping days (November 2 thru December 5, 2010)
**Data based on partial week of data thru Dec. 2, 2011
.

Q: “When making a purchase online this holiday season, which of the following statements best describes how important free shipping is to you?” November 29-December 1, 2011, n=1,013 Total U.S. – Home & Work Locations Source: comScore 2011 Holiday Survey
Response	Percentage of Respondents
Very important – I will not make a purchase without it	36%
Somewhat important – I actively seek out free shipping deals	42%
Neither important nor unimportant – I would like to find it, but do not require it	12%
Somewhat unimportant – free shipping has very little effect on my purchase decision	1%
Very unimportant – I will make my purchase regardless of shipping costs	2%
Don’t know/not sure	6%

Amazon is on tiny loss selling Kindle Fire

Tiny Short term loss. Huge Long term Profit? Time has the answer...

Amazon.com takes a hit with the sale of each Kindle Fire, but the loss isn't as bad as initially thought. A look at the build of materials and manufacturing costs concluded that Amazon spends $201.70 on each Kindle Fire, only slightly above its $199 retail price, according to research firm IHS iSuppli. The cost is lower than the nearly $210 estimate the firm initially placed on the device. 

As previously reported, Texas Instruments was a major contributor to the tablet.The Kindle Fire uses a TI application processor, as well as the power management device and audio codec.

The most expensive component in the Kindle Fire is the display and touch screen, IHS iSuppli said, noting that it cost $87, or nearly half the build of material cost. The display comes from LG Display and E Ink Holdings. 

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