Amazon sells software downloads in bid for profit

Tax, antivirus and design software up for purchase

Amazon.com is continuing in its bid to make a profit but this time it's being constructive. That's right, rather than fire staff or get rid of entire lines of goods, it has decided to expand its offerings to include a software download service.

Available now, the Software Downloads area has a range of software available form Norton's anti-virus to Quicken's Turbotax to Macromedia's Flash (and YM Digital Makeover Magic - put yourself on the cover of YM!), most with around a 15 per cent discount. Ingram Micro will supply the goods.

How's it work? Buy the software as per usual and Amazon will send an email with a specific URL. Click that and away you go. The site's FAQ assures you that there will be no problems with the download - got some kinda Smart Download software presumably - or with re-downloading if you lose it.

And so everyone's happy. Well, apart from the staff that used to work for the online giant and are not happy with their severance package. ®

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