Amazon takes on Netflix with $8.99 monthly service

Amazon put Netflix directly in its crosshairs, launching a stand-alone subscription just for its streaming video arm for $8.99 a month.

Amazon Prime Video previously was only available as a part of a $99-a-year Prime membership, best known for free, second-day shipping. The company also launched a month-to-month version of prime for $10.99.

More to come.

Click through to learn more about the history of Netflix: