What's the Amazon Associates Sponsored Links Program?

I asked my friends at Amazon.com about this and they sent me their media Q&A on the Amazon Associates Sponsored Links Beta Program:

Q1: What is the Amazon Associates Sponsored Links Program?
A1: The Amazon Associates team is beta testing a new offering called the Amazon Associates Sponsored Links Program. Associates who choose to participate in the program will receive sponsored links from a third-party provider that they can place on their websites alongside links to Amazon products. Per our agreement with the third-party provider of the links, we are not disclosing the name of the company.

Q2: Is Amazon developing its own advertising network?
A2: We do not discuss the products we are or are not working on at Amazon.

Q3: How are the sponsored links delivered?
A3: Sponsored links are based on keywords that appear on Associates sites or on keywords the Associates provide to Amazon.

Q4: How are Associates compensated?
A4: Associates who participate in the test will be compensated when the third-party provider validates that a visitor to their site clicked on a sponsored link.

Q5: Why is Amazon offering its Associates this program?
A5: We believe that by working with a third-party to provide Associates with links to relevant websites, in addition to products on Amazon, that we can help them make more money from their sites. This will help us maintain long-term relationships with our Associates community that provides an important source of traffic to Amazon sites.

Q6: Does Amazon get a percentage of the sponsored link commission?
A6: Yes, Amazon will receive revenue each time a sponsored link on an Associates site is clicked on, which allows Amazon to offer lower prices for our customers.

Q7: How much does Amazon earn for each sponsored link that is clicked on?
A7: We do not disclose details of our arrangements with third-party providers.

Q8: What company is providing the sponsored links?
A8: Per our agreement with this company, we are not disclosing the name of the third-party provider.

Q9: How many Associates are participating in the test?
A9: We are not disclosing the number of Associates participating in the test.

Q10 How many Associates does Amazon have?
A10 Hundreds of thousands.

Q11 When did the beta test begin and when will the program be announced?
A11 Amazon Associates began testing the program on January 27, but we are not disclosing a future timeline for the program.

Q12 Is Amazon still publishing Google Sponsored Links?
A12 Yes, Amazon and A9.com list Sponsored Links from Google.

Q13 Is Google providing the links to Amazon Associates?
A13 We are not disclosing the name of the third-party provider.

Q14: Does this program impact how Associates earn referral fees for Amazon products?
A14: No, the referral fee structure for the Amazon Associates program has not changed. Associates still earn referral fees when customers click through Amazon links on their sites and purchase products on Amazon sites.

I hope that clarifies what's up with Amazon! I'm darn interested in learning more about this program too...