Amazon has announced significant changes to its service offerings, marking a pivotal shift in its approach to digital commerce and app distribution. As of February 20, 2025, the company will cease the availability of Amazon Coins, a virtual currency introduced in 2013 for in-app purchases within the Amazon Appstore. This decision aligns with the discontinuation of the Amazon Appstore on Android devices, effective August 20, 2025. Customers will need to utilize any remaining Amazon Coins by this date, as any unspent balances will be refunded thereafter.
Changes to Appstore Availability
While the Amazon Appstore will no longer be accessible on Android devices, it will continue to function on Fire TV and Fire Tablet devices. This move is part of Amazon’s broader strategy to streamline its services and enhance user experience. The company previously announced that the Appstore would also be unavailable for download from the Microsoft store on Windows 11 devices starting March 6, 2024, due to the impending end of support for the Windows Subsystem for Android.
In a recent update on its Amazon Appstore Developer page, Amazon emphasized that these changes are part of its ongoing efforts to improve its service offerings. The discontinuation of the Amazon Appstore on Android devices and the Amazon Coins program reflects a shift in focus, as the company seeks to refine its digital ecosystem.
Amazon Chime and Social Commerce Features
In addition to these changes, Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced on February 19, 2025, that it would no longer accept new customers for its collaboration tool, Amazon Chime. This service, which facilitates meetings, chats, and business calls, will be fully supported until February 20, 2026. Customers currently using Amazon Chime will need to explore alternative solutions as the company phases out this offering.
Moreover, Amazon has also decided to discontinue its social commerce feature, Inspire, which was integrated into the Amazon shopping app in 2022. Inspire provided users with a curated video and photo feed to enhance product discovery and shopping experiences. The removal of this feature signals a strategic pivot away from social commerce within the Amazon platform.
As Amazon navigates these transitions, it remains focused on refining its core offerings and enhancing the overall customer experience, even as it steps back from certain services that have defined its digital landscape in recent years.
