Amazon Ends Developer Payments for Alexa Apps

Amazon.com Inc. is discontinuing its practice of paying developers to create applications for Alexa, a move that marks the end of the company's push to establish a thriving app store for its voice-activated digital assistant. The decision to end the Alexa Developer Rewards Program, which provided monthly payments to developers of popular Alexa apps, was communicated to participants recently and is effective at the end of June.

Key Takeaways

• Amazon.com Inc. will stop paying developers to create applications for Alexa, affecting its app store's growth.
• The Alexa Developer Rewards Program, which gave monthly checks to popular app builders, will end in June.
• This decision marks a shift in Amazon's strategy for encouraging app development for its voice-activated digital assistant.
• The move could impact the availability and quality of Alexa apps in the future.
• Developers may now need to consider alternative sources of income when creating apps for Alexa.

News Content

Amazon has made a significant decision to stop paying developers to create applications for Alexa, signaling a shift in its strategy to build an app store for its voice-activated digital assistant. The company has communicated to participants of the Alexa Developer Rewards Program that the program, which provided monthly payments to successful app builders, will come to an end by the close of June. This move marks a departure from a key element of Amazon's effort to cultivate a thriving ecosystem for Alexa apps.

Analysis

Amazon's decision to terminate the Alexa Developer Rewards Program implies a strategic shift towards building an app store for its digital assistant. This move may significantly impact developers who previously received monthly payments. Short-term consequences could include diminished developer motivation and a potential decrease in Alexa app innovations, while long-term effects may involve a less competitive app ecosystem for Alexa. Financially, the termination of the rewards program could influence the income of developers and potentially lead to reevaluations of investment in Alexa app development. Ultimately, this decision reflects Amazon's emphasis on app store growth and may reshape the landscape of the voice-activated digital assistant market.

Do You Know?

• Alexa Developer Rewards Program: This was a program by Amazon that provided monthly payments to successful app builders for the Alexa digital assistant platform. The program aimed to incentivize developers to create innovative and useful applications for the voice-activated digital assistant.

• Shift in Amazon's App Store Strategy: Amazon's decision to stop paying developers for creating Alexa applications signals a shift in its strategy for building an app store for the voice-activated digital assistant. This move marks a departure from the previous incentivization approach and may have wider implications for the development and availability of Alexa apps.

• Ecosystem for Alexa Apps: Amazon has made a significant decision to stop paying developers to create applications for Alexa, signaling a change in its approach to cultivating a thriving ecosystem for Alexa apps. This decision has potential implications for the future growth and development of the voice-activated digital assistant platform.