As more streaming services are offered online, the world of streaming grows ever more competitive. Today however, Amazon upped their game to compete more openly with Netflix. What was this bold move? They made their content available offline for Android and iOS devices. That means if you have a membership to Amazon Prime, you may download a movie, episode of a show or even several episodes of a show to watch on your mobile device without having an internet connection. That is a service Netflix does not offer.
This concept is not new to Amazon. Since 2013, members of Amazon Prime have had the ability to download offline content and play it on their Amazon Kindle. However, with Kindle sales increasingly dwindling, and market share dropping from 7.4% to just 2.3% from 2013 to 2014, fewer and fewer people had the ability to do so. Amazon’s decision to support the iOS and Android operating systems was clearly brilliant move.
The first reason this is a good idea is because of access. Selection wise, Amazon has many titles of shows, movies, and even original content. They are a big player in the crowded streaming market. Opening access to iOS and Android operating systems means over 40% of the market has the ability to download shows to watch whether they are on a long car ride, on a plane, on the beach, or even in the middle of nowhere, all without an internet connection. Providing of course you had a subscription.
That is another reason why this is a good move. Because of this functionality, the hope is to drive more people towards Amazon Prime, instead of Netflix. Just like any company, Amazon wants to beat out everyone else. Of course, content is a big factor. If both companies have fairly similar content, and are both priced competitively, you must look for other distinguishing factors. If you are a frequent traveler, won’t have access to Wi-Fi, or want to keep the kids occupied during the family trip to Wally World, a subscription to Amazon Prime should certainly be considered.
