Amazon needs more competition in the ebook realm
Amazon set off a firestorm of criticism across the web the other day when they decided to remotely delete several Orwell titles off of customers’ Kindles because the ‘publisher’ didn’t have permission to to sell those titles as ebooks. The tactic shows how ruthless Amazon can be with their ebook business, on top of their already draconian DRM tactics.
The question I keep asking myself is: “What will it take for Amazon to change their ways?” Yes, a big enough lawsuit might do the trick. And yes, action on the part of the government (i.e. FTC), might also do the trick. But there’s a simpler way to force Amazon to change – competition.
Right now Amazon is the ‘big fish’ in the ebook market. Their Kindle has gotten the most attention, and when you add that to the large number of titles they offer and their magical $9.99 price on most books, they have become the center of the ebook universe.
That might start to change. Barnes & Noble, the largest chain bookstore in the US, might be the only company that can currently give Amazon a run for their money. And B&N has jumped into the ebook game in a big way. According to this New York Times article:
In an announcement on Monday, Barnes & Noble said that it would offer more than 700,000 books that could be read on a wide range of devices, including Apple’s iPhone, the BlackBerry and various laptop or desktop computers. When Barnes & Noble acquired Fictionwise in March, that online retailer had about 60,000 books in its catalog.
That’s double the number of ebooks that Amazon currently offers! Like Amazon, B&N is touting a $9.99 price on most titles including bestsellers.
I had known B&N wanted to enter the ebook market when they acquired Fictionwise earlier in the year. Back then they said that they’ll be rolling out their own ebookstore later on. I guess this is it. But an announcement buried within the one above is what really took me by surprise:
The retailer also said that when Plastic Logic released its electronic reading device in early 2010, Barnes & Noble would operate a bookstore for e-books that would work on the new device. Mr. Lynch declined to say whether Barnes & Noble would sell the actual device.
If B&N sold the upcoming ereading device like I hope they do, then they will definitely be the competition that Amazon needs. It has also been noted in this Publishers Weekly article that the Plastic Logic device will include wireless capabilities. Not too shabby.
I think that competition like this is what will ultimately keep Amazon in line. If Amazon uses draconian DRM and is deleting books off their customers’ Kindles, then people will just start giving B&N their business (I’m assuming B&N won’t make the same mistakes Amazon has made – I could be wrong).
What do you think of the recent news from Barnes & Noble? Will they effectively compete with Amazon and give customers a real choice? Or, will B&N be like most other large corporations and tie their customers down with DRM and other restrictions? Leave a comment below with your thoughts!
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- Why is the Barnes & Noble Nook already generating a lot of buzz?
- Amazon nixes pdf and Microsoft formats from ebook offerings
- Is latest Amazon controversy with Kindle Orwell titles just the beginning?
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