by Charlotte Hazard
Amazon has reportedly been in talks with wireless carriers about offering low-cost or potentially free nationwide mobile phone service to Prime subscribers.
According to Bloomberg, Amazon has been in contact with Verizon Communications Inc., T-Mobile US Inc. and Dish Network Corp to negotiate low wholesale prices.
These talks have been going on for the past six to eight weeks, but if this were to happen, it would take several months to launch.
“We are always exploring adding even more benefits for Prime members, but don’t have plans to add wireless at this time,” Amazon spokesperson Maggie Sivon said in a statement to Bloomberg.
Amazon’s US Prime subscribers pay around $139 a year for benefits that include fast and free deliveries, video streaming and access to 100 million songs.
If Amazon reaches a deal with big wireless carriers, retailers could choose to offer wireless to its Prime members at a very good price.
This would possibly push customers to cancel their current mobile service to get a better deal.
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Charlotte Hazard is a 2022 Liberty University alumni who graduated with a major in journalism and a minor in government.
Photo “A Man Using His Phone” by Jonas Leupe.
