Site focuses on providing simple, easy-to-find information about high definition to educate customers on how they can get the most out of their HD home entertainment experiences

SEATTLE - March 24, 2008 - Amazon.ca, a website operated by a subsidiary of Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), today unveiled a new Canadian customer knowledge center, Amazon High-Def 101 (www.amazon.ca/highdef101), which will help customers navigate the mountains of information available about the high-definition home entertainment marketplace. As a one-stop education destination where customers can also shop a huge selection of high-definition movies, Amazon High-Def 101 allows visitors to learn about a comprehensive lineup of high-def-related products -- including HDTVs, movie players, game systems, PC options, accessories and movies -- while getting the facts on how to "high-def" their homes.

"The goal behind the Amazon High-Def 101 customer knowledge center is to help address consumer confusion around high-definition entertainment," said Julie Todaro, director of Amazon.ca. "There are few resources today where the public can find simple and concise information about high definition. We wanted to create a resource of centralized, easy to-understand high-def information where anyone can come to learn about this complex landscape. We will continue to expand and evolve the site to meet our customers' needs."

In a confusing high-definition marketplace, there are many different consumer electronic products to choose from -- and they all have to be installed. The goal of High-Def 101 is to alleviate confusion and present the facts about high-def products in a clear and simple way to Amazon customers, as well as help them achieve the best entertainment experience from their home theater investments.

Amazon High-Def 101 provides a comprehensive destination where the less technically inclined can get all the information they need about high-definition home entertainment. Key features of the High-Def 101 customer knowledge center include:

 

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  • An interactive, intuitive layout that allows customers to easily access and find information
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  • A library of consumer-friendly articles aimed at helping the average person configure their high-def home entertainment experience
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  • A dictionary of high-definition terminology that explains commonly used phrases and abbreviations


 

"Many consumers remain unaware of the details and benefits of the HDTV experience, and this has been a challenge for the industry to overcome," stated Paul Erickson, director of DVD and HD Market Research at DisplaySearch, an NPD Group company. "With consumers shifting towards flat displays, high-def content availability increasing from pay-TV providers and movie studios, Blu-ray player prices falling, and popularity growing for high-def game consoles, the potential has never been higher for this market segment. By helping to raise consumer understanding of both the benefits of HDTV and the advantages of next-generation disc formats over regular DVD, consumer education efforts like Amazon's 'High-Def 101' will help both consumers and the industry to take full advantage of this potential."

About Amazon.ca

Amazon.ca (www.amazon.ca) is part of the global family of Amazon websites 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 a single 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.

Forward-Looking Statements

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 competition, management of growth, new products, services and technologies, potential fluctuations in operating results, international expansion, outcomes of legal proceedings and claims, fulfillment center optimization, seasonality, commercial agreements, acquisitions and strategic transactions, foreign exchange rates, system interruption, significant amount of indebtedness, inventory, government regulation and taxation, payments and fraud. 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, 2007, and subsequent filings.

Media Contacts:
Amazon .ca
Margaret Antkowski/Mark Van Tol
NATIONAL Public Relations
416-586-0180
mantkowski@national.ca/mvantol@national.ca