Amazon.com Inc. (Nasdaq:AMZN) has kicked off a new digital currency for the Amazon Appstore by giving about $5 worth of it to anyone who owns a Kindle Fire tablet.

To jump-start its new "Amazon Coins" program, the Internet-commerce giant has deposited 500 of the digital currency units (worth $5) into the accounts of Kindle Fire and Kindle Fire HD owners, applicable toward purchases of “Kindle Fire-compatible” apps, games and in-app purchases through the Amazon Marketplace. Furthermore, Amazon is offering a 10 percent discount to customers who purchase at least $50 worth of Amazon Coins.

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Amazon deposited about $5 worth of its new digital currency into the accounts of Kindle Fire tablet owners. Courtesy / Amazon.com

The Amazon Coins program is supported by the second-generation Kindle Fire, the 7-inch and 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD, and the Amazon Appstore. Users of the first-generation Kindle Fire are not entirely out of luck, but they will have to make purchases on the Web version of the Appstore and then separately download them to the tablet.

The program is similar to Microsoft Points but offers a simpler conversion from American dollars. Whereas one dollar equals a little more than 80 Microsoft Points, it gets you 100 Amazon Coins. Facebook also has a similar "Credits" program.

What do you think of Amazon Coins? Will you be purchasing Amazon's new currency? Sound off in the comments section below.

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