Amazon's Fire Phone Is Now Just 99 Cents

AN AT&T worker holds the new Amazon Fire phone at an AT&T store on July 25, 2014 in San Francisco.
Justin Sullivan—Getty Images
By Victor Luckerson
September 8, 2014

Amazon’s first-ever smartphone now costs under a buck, the company announced Monday, after less than two months on the market. The Fire phone’s price has been cut to just 99 cents under a two-year contract with AT&T.

The online retailer is notoriously reticent to divulge sales figures for its specific products, but the fact that the Fire phone has tumbled nearly $200 in price in a matter of weeks implies that its sales were not up to Amazon’s expectations.

The device, Amazon’s latest ambitious foray into the world of electronics, launched during the summer to middling reviews. Critics praised its high-quality camera and 3D screen but were turned off by the limited app store offerings and over-emphasis on selling the user Amazon products.

Amazon’s price-drop comes one day before Apple is expected to launch two new, larger iPhones and a smartwatch.

PHOTOS: The Rise of Mobile Phones from 1916 to Today
<strong>1916</strong> A German field telephone station in the Aisne department of northern France during World War I.
1916 A German field telephone station in the Aisne department of northern France during World War I.
Paul Thompson—FPG/Getty Images
<strong>1970</strong> French singer and actor Johnny Hallyday in a scene from the film 'Point de Chute' (aka 'Falling Point').
1970 French singer and actor Johnny Hallyday in a scene from the film 'Point de Chute' (aka 'Falling Point').
Keystone/Holton/Getty Images
<strong>1980</strong> An early mobile phone during the Iranian Embassy siege at Princes Gate in South Kensington, London.
1980 An early mobile phone during the Iranian Embassy siege at Princes Gate in South Kensington, London.
Kypros/Getty Images
<strong>1983</strong> Bob Maxwell, general manager of Englewood-based Mobile Telephone of Colorado, places a call on an FCC-approved radio frequency while driving to work.
1983 Bob Maxwell, general manager of Englewood-based Mobile Telephone of Colorado, places a call on an FCC-approved radio frequency while driving to work.
Lyn Alweis—Denver Post/Getty Images
<strong>1986</strong> THE A-TEAM "The Say U.N.C.L.E. Affair" Episode 5. (l-r) Eddie Velez as Frankie Santana, Robert Vaughn as General Hunt Stockwell, George Peppard as John 'Hannibal' Smith.
1986 THE A-TEAM "The Say U.N.C.L.E. Affair" Episode 5. (l-r) Eddie Velez as Frankie Santana, Robert Vaughn as General Hunt Stockwell, George Peppard as John 'Hannibal' Smith.
Bill Dow—NBC/Getty Images
<strong>1992</strong> Democratic presidential nominee Bill Clinton talks on a cell phone while meeting with Boston Mayor Ray Flynn in a New York hotel on Sept. 25.
1992 Democratic presidential nominee Bill Clinton talks on a cell phone while meeting with Boston Mayor Ray Flynn in a New York hotel on Sept. 25.
Mark Lennihan—AP
<strong>1993</strong> Whoopi Goldberg during ShoWest in Las Vegas.
1993 Whoopi Goldberg during ShoWest in Las Vegas.
Jeff Kravitz—FilmMagic/Getty Images
<strong>1997</strong> A farmer with his family sitting on a Bullock Cart and talking on a mobile Phone, in Delhi.
1997 A farmer with his family sitting on a Bullock Cart and talking on a mobile Phone, in Delhi.
India Today Group/Getty Images
<strong>2001</strong> A woman watches smoke pour out of the World Trade Center Towers in New York on September 11.
2001 A woman watches smoke pour out of the World Trade Center Towers in New York on September 11.
Nicholas Goldberg—Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images
<strong>2011</strong> A rebel militiaman speaks on his mobile phone after capturing territory from government troops on March 25 in Ben Jawat, Libya.
2011 A rebel militiaman speaks on his mobile phone after capturing territory from government troops on March 25 in Ben Jawat, Libya.
John Moore—Getty Images
<strong>2011</strong> A youth films the aftermath of tear gas police fired at protestors in Muhammed Mahmoud Street near Tahrir Square on November 23 in Cairo.
2011 A youth films the aftermath of tear gas police fired at protestors in Muhammed Mahmoud Street near Tahrir Square on November 23 in Cairo.
Peter Macdiarmid—Getty Images
<strong>2012</strong> Audience members take pictures of President Barack Obama at Florida Atlantic University on April 10 in Boca Raton, Florida.
2012 Audience members take pictures of President Barack Obama at Florida Atlantic University on April 10 in Boca Raton, Florida.
Marc Serota—Getty Images
<strong>2014</strong> A teenager takes a selfie in front of Queen Elizabeth II during a walk around St. Georges Market in Belfast. The Queen has apparently voiced her dismay that when she carries out engagements she is greeted by a sea of mobile phones.
2014 A teenager takes a selfie in front of Queen Elizabeth II during a walk around St. Georges Market in Belfast. The Queen has apparently voiced her dismay that when she carries out engagements she is greeted by a sea of mobile phones.
Peter Macdiarmid—PA Wire/Press Association Images/AP
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