It looks like Amazon has refined their online wireless store so that AT&T and Verizon cell phones will be sold without the need to file a rebate. Amazon has always sold phones however some were sold with a requirement to file for a rebate while others were rebate free. For now only AT&T and Verizon are being offered on the beta site. This newly revamped store is listed as “beta” and may be accessed at http://wireless.amazon.com.

What’s different about the Amazon Wireless (beta)?

The first (and most important) is the lack of any rebate requirement for phones purchased from AT&T or Verizon. Based on a quick review of Amazon it looks as if the rebate free feature may have carried over to all phones in Amazon’s regular store as well.

The selection of phones is (for now) limited to AT&T and Verizon. You cannot currently purchase non-contract phones. What Amazon has done is simplified their browsing and selection screens so that there is less clutter and it’s simpler for the first time phone buyer – or UPGRADER.

In an acknowledgement that many phone purchasers are now upgrading their existing lines of service rather than buying new lines – Amazon makes the process a little clearer. You could alway upgrade lines on the old Amazon Wireless site but the process was not as clearly laid out.

While only two carriers are presently included in the beta site, undoubtedly more will join soon. The new site also seems to clean up the interface quite a bit and remove lots of the old obsolete phone models that used to litter the Amazon store.

wireless.amazon.com