In addition to its new Kindle e-reader device, Amazon now offers all titles available in print in digital format as well.
The Amazon Kindle, an electronic e-book reader, was launched by the online retailer in the Fall of 2009, in an effort to take advantage of the emerging electronic book marketplace. The product has set sales records for Amazon, being the fastest selling product in history. E-books now make up more than 30 percent of Amazon's business, and growing with approximately 12 percent of American adults now using an electronic reading device.
Business Model
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos described the company's approach to the Kindle launch as a two-tiered marketplace, hardware and software. Amazon profits off of the sale of its Kindle e-book reader, and guarantees them the profits from future e-books that must be purchased on Amazon.com. Besos has pronounced that he would like the company to be equally strong in both its hardware and software offerings without one division holding up the other.
Mobile And Other Readers
Kindle subscribers can also access e-books they have purchased on their home computers and mobile devices as well as competitors' e-books and tablet devices. Being that the Kindle is Amazon's first hardware product in the e-reader market, it is a strategic move to play nice with other competitors and content marketplaces, such as iTunes, which may be critical to their success as the technology evolves and becomes more proliferated.
Exceptional Hardware
The Kindle has been hailed as an exceptional device by CNET.com editors for its light weight, battery life, clear screen and price point. The device is certainly capable of competing with and beating other tablet PC's, such as Apple's iPad, which is competing with Amazon in the e-book and digital reader marketplace. This is certainly important because users are able to download Amazon titles to other devices as well.
Publishing Industry
The success of the Kindle and other e-readers have led to an emerging trend of self publication in the literary industry. To publish an e-book, an author does not need to submit their work to traditional publishing houses or sign distribution agreements. Some straight to e-book authors are starting to find self publishing and promotion to be successful, which will certainly impact the industry moving forward.
Tags: competing with, devices well, e-book reader, hardware software, Kindle Amazon
