Amazon to offer free video-streaming service

That whooshing sound that Netflix is hearing today,
 is the sound of its customers preparing to head for
 the exits. According to a report published on Friday,
 early next year Amazon will launch a free streaming
 video service, supported by ads. The plan calls for
Amazon to spin the service off from Prime, its $99
a year premium membership club that offers access
 to its Instant Video service.


One theory is that Amazon wants a larger audience
 that it might be able to up-sell to the $99 Prime
 membership. And in the worse-case scenario,
 Amazon increases its share of the streaming video market
Amazon denies planning free video streaming service By Chris
 Welch; ... the Journal claims Amazon may offer free music video
 streams to its online shoppers.