Amazon Intros Ad Supported Kindle

Amazon is pushing the price of its Kindle ebook reader down and ever closer to the US$100 mark by offering a version that pushes ads to users. The Kindle with Special Offers, as Amazon calls it, sells for $114 instead of $139 and includes “special offers and sponsored screensavers.”

Kindle with AdsAmazon’s Kindle, now with ads

Special offers, or ads to the rest of us, appear at the bottom of the home screen and Amazon promises the won’t interrupt users when they’re reading. The Kindle with Special Offers will also include settings so users can tell Amazon what kinds of ads they’re most interested in seeing.

Other than pushed advertisements, the Kindle with Special Offers is the same as the Wi-Fi Kindle. The ad-supported Kindle isn’t available yet, so it’s hard to say whether or not consumers will think a $25 discount is worth the on-screen ads.

Kindle with Special Offers will ship on May 3, but is available for pre-order now.