Get the latest delivered to your inbox
Privacy Policy

Now Reading

Amazon Launches Alternative Web Site Designed for the Visually Impaired

Amazon Launches Alternative Web Site Designed for the Visually Impaired

Published 12-06-01

Submitted by Amazon.com, Inc

Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) today launched Amazon Access, an alternative version of its Web site designed to make online shopping easier for customers using screen access software.

Found at http://www.amazon.com/access, the site is a streamlined version of Amazon.com's standard Internet destination with less text and graphics, providing access to Amazon.com's full line of products and personalization features.

The text and user functions are fully compatible with screen access software, which reads aloud the text and links displayed for the user. The software allows users to enter text, jump from link to link and navigate a site through the use of special keystrokes. On the Amazon Access site, customers can browse, search and utilize 1-Click buying through simple actions.

"Making online shopping and a broad selection of products accessible to all people remains one of Amazon's main goals, and we hope this new site will greatly improve the shopping experience for our customers who use screen access software," said Robert Frederick, manager of Amazon Anywhere for Amazon.com. "We listen very carefully to our customers and are providing access based on their varying needs. This also shows the strength and versatility of our technology and platform."

The Amazon Access Web site is powered by the company's mobile commerce platform, Amazon Anywhere, which provides wireless access to Amazon's Web sites via WAP-enabled devices in Europe and the United States and via i-mode and EZweb phones in Japan. The mobile commerce sites are streamlined versions of the Internet site designed specifically for wireless phones, PDAs and other non-standard Internet browsers.

In addition to the Amazon Access site, Amazon.com has maintained a text-only mode of its standard e-commerce site (http://www.amazon.com) since the company went online in 1995.

About Amazon.com

Amazon.com opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com and sellers list millions of unique new and used items in categories such as electronics, computers, kitchen and housewares, books, music, DVDs, videos, camera and photo items, toys, baby and baby registry, software, computer and video games, cell phones and service, tools and hardware, travel services, magazine subscriptions and outdoor living products. Through Amazon Marketplace, zShops and Auctions, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's millions of customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments. Amazon.com also offers the Amazon Credit Account, the online equivalent of a department store credit card, which provides shoppers the opportunity to buy now and pay later when shopping at Amazon.com.

Amazon.com operates four international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de, www.amazon.fr and www.amazon.co.jp. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 275,000 movies and entertainment titles and 1 million cast and crew members dating from the birth of film.

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, Amazon.com's anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, competition, strategic alliances, strategic partnerships and business combinations, seasonality, potential fluctuations in operating results and rate of growth, management of potential growth, risks of system interruption, international expansion, consumer trends, risk of fulfillment center optimization, inventory risks, limited operating history, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas. 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, 2000, and all subsequent filings, including Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

About Amazon Anywhere

Amazon Anywhere is a leader in mobile e-commerce, providing customers with access to Earth's Biggest Selection on Amazon.com's U.S. and international sites from handheld wireless Internet phones and PDAs, as well as other non-traditional computing devices. The Anywhere platform currently supports Amazon's retail, auctions and premier partners' wireless Web sites. Amazon Anywhere is available on i-mode and EZweb phones, WAP-enabled phones, Palm and Handspring devices, the RIM BlackBerry and Pocket PC devices in the U.S., Europe and Japan. Amazon.com has partnered with over 13 leading wireless carriers and device manufacturers around the world, and recently provided third-party merchants with a service that enables "mobile storefronts" to be accessible from wireless devices.

Amazon.com, Inc logo

Amazon.com, Inc

Amazon.com, Inc

Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN), a Fortune 500 company based in Seattle, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection. Amazon.com seeks to be Earth's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer customers the lowest possible prices. Amazon.com and third-party sellers offer millions of unique new, refurbished, and used items in categories such as health and personal care, jewelry and watches, gourmet food, sports and outdoors, apparel and accessories, books, music, DVDs, electronics and office, toys and baby, and home and garden.

More from Amazon.com, Inc

Join today and get the latest delivered to your inbox