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Amazon discontinued Mayday live video calling for Fire tablets in June 2018. The feature let an Amazon support representative appear on the tablet screen and guide the owner, including by controlling or annotating the device. Amazon said customers could still contact customer service by phone, email, or chat, and that screen sharing would remain available on supported devices with the owner’s permission.
What Mayday did—and when it ended
Introduced with Fire tablets in September 2013, Mayday offered direct, on-screen assistance from an Amazon representative. Amazon’s April 2, 2018 overview described the original service as free, around-the-clock help reached by tapping the Mayday button.
In June 2018, Amazon told GeekWire that “The Mayday video calling service will be discontinued in June 2018.” The Mayday button was removed through an automatic Settings update, according to Amazon’s statement as reported by GeekWire. Amazon described the service as being offered on legacy devices it no longer sold.
What support options remained
The change ended Mayday video calling, not every way of contacting Amazon. Amazon said customers could continue to reach customer service by phone, email, or chat. It also said screen sharing would remain available through customer service on supported devices. The owner had to give permission before a representative could share the screen.
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| Support method | What Amazon said was available after Mayday | On-screen interaction |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | Customer-service contact option | Not specified |
| Customer-service contact option | Not specified | |
| Chat | Customer-service contact option | Not specified |
| Screen sharing | Through customer service on supported devices | Owner permission required |
Amazon identified the screen-sharing entry points as the Phone & Email icon, Quick Actions, or the Help app. Availability was limited to supported devices; the announcement does not establish that every older Fire tablet can use it.
Why Amazon discontinued Mayday
Amazon’s stated context was that Mayday video calling was on legacy devices no longer sold by the company. GeekWire’s report does not give a fuller official explanation, such as cost, technical burden, or customer demand, so those should not be treated as established reasons.
Rank #2
- Fire HD 8 offers an 8" HD display for seamless streaming and gaming, coupled with a 5MP rear facing camera for photos—with a thin, light, durable design.
- Fast and responsive with long battery life - With up to 4 GB RAM (2X more than 2022 release), 64GB of storage, and up to 1 TB of expandable storage (sold separately). Hexa-core processor for fast, responsive performance. Up to 13 hours of reading, browsing the web, watching videos, gaming, and listening to music at home and on-the-go.
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- Stream or download your favorite shows, movies, and games (like Minecraft, Roblox, and more). Enjoy your favorite content from Facebook, Hulu, Instagram, TikTok, and more through Amazon’s Appstore (Google Play not supported. Subscription for some apps required).
- Stay connected with family and friends - ask Alexa to make video calls to friends and family or download apps like Zoom.
What the historical usage figures mean
GeekWire reported historical figures attributed to Amazon: an average Mayday response time of 9 seconds against a 15-second goal, and use of the Mayday button by three-quarters of Fire HDX tablet owners within a year of launch. These figures describe the service’s earlier period; they are not current usage measures, and no quantified effect of the shutdown was reported.
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Amazon’s device documentation lists Fire tablet generations and model identifiers, including 2013 Kindle Fire HDX models, and was last updated September 30, 2025. Identifying a model can clarify which device you own, but it does not establish Mayday availability or eligibility for current support options.
Rank #3
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- NO-HASSLE PARENT CONTROLS — Easy-to-use Parent Dashboard allows you to filter content based on child's age, set educational goals and time limits, and grant access to additional content like Netflix and Disney+.
- UP to 10-HOUR BATTERY — Means the tablet is always ready when you need it.
Amazon’s security-update policy says devices bought new from Amazon as seller receive security-update support for at least four years from purchase, or through a later date shown in its model table. That policy concerns security updates; it is not a promise of Mayday access or general customer-service eligibility, and Amazon cautions that the update period does not guarantee how long a device will last.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Like-New Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet is refurbished, tested, and certified to look and work like new and comes with the same limited warranty as a new device. Like-New Amazon devices may be packaged in generic Amazon-branded boxes.
- Fire HD 8 offers an 8" HD display for seamless streaming and gaming, coupled with a 5MP rear facing camera for photos—with a thin, light, durable design.
- Responsive with all day battery life - Includes 3GB RAM (50% more than 2022 release), 32GB of storage, and up to 1 TB of expandable storage (sold separately). Up to 13 hours of reading, browsing the web, watching videos, gaming, and listening to music at home and on-the-go.
- Save time, get creative - Enjoy three smart tools to help you send polished emails, quickly summarize webpages, and create unique wallpapers.
- Stream or download your favorite shows, movies, and games (like Minecraft, Roblox, and more). Enjoy your favorite content from Facebook, Hulu, Instagram, TikTok, and more through Amazon’s Appstore (Google Play not supported. Subscription for some apps required).
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
