Amazon has finally taken its first big step to take the Kindle platform beyond the hardware. Jeff Bezos did announce a few weeks ago that Amazon would be bringing the Kindle platform to mobile phone users, and he has kept up with his promise. Kindle for iPhone is a free iPhone application that enables you to read Kindle books on your iPhone or iPod Touch. You can also buy books from Kindle store right on your iPhone. In essence, this application turns iPhone to a Kindle mini.
Kindle for iPhone comes with Whispersnyc, which means you can sync your reading locations and annotations between your Kindle and your iPhone. In addition, any book that you buy for your Kindle can be accessed on your iPhone as well. And let’s not forget that you get the same Kindle book discounts on your iPhone.
This is a somewhat risky move on Amazon’s part. Amazon does intend to sell more books, and what a better way to do that than selling books to millions of folks who already own an iPhone. The problem is, Amazon has already invested a lot in its own gadget. You could say that Amazon will be hoping to convert iPhone owners to Kindle buyers. The problem is this move could backfire. People may just decide to buy the iPhone to kill two birds with one stone (and save their $350 in the process). It’s a risky move but one Amazon has to make to take the Kindle platform to the next level. And who knows. A larger base may help Amazon to drop its e-book prices.
What’s your take: is this a wise decision on Amazon’s part?
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0 comments
#1CameronMarch 4, 2009, 5:08 am
Very wise decision for Amazon.
The Kindle is a good book reader. The problem is that Amazon is not a consumer electronics maker and it showed with the Kindle 1.
Amazon wants to sell books. The Kindle was a way to jumpstart the ebook market, and it worked.
Now Amazon can move towards Kindle as a platform as sell even more books.
The issue i have with Kindle on the iphone is it is a lackluster attempt at an ebook reader. Apps like Stanza and eReader Pro are much superior products. Kindle on the iPhone feels like a helper app for people who already have a Kindle.
Hopefully Amazon will quickly make improvements and it will be the best ebook reader on the iphone, just as the real Kindle is the best dedicated ebook reader you can buy. But at this point i feel that Kindle on the iphone is more of a hook to get you to buy a kindle, than a real ebook reader itself.
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