It is reported that AT&T stores will begin selling the Kindle. Seen by some industry analysts as a way to increase distribution, the move by Amazon is an indication that they would like to gain back some of the business its 3G model has lost to the wireless-only version of their e-reader. Personally, I have no desire to spend an additional $50 for 3G connectivity when wi-fi availability is so widespread and easy to access. The Amazon/AT&T partnering seems to be an effort to sell as many Kindles as possible before they become free. Many have predicted that the Kindle will ultimately be given away, either with the Amazon Prime subscription, which, for $79/year, gives you free shipping on any order, regardless of size/quantity, or bundled with the purchase of e-books from Amazon’s unparalleled inventory of titles.
Another possibility is to give the Kindle away based on what source of information you choose to purchase. Let’s say you subscribe to the Chicago Tribune and pay a yearly subscription charge for your daily paper. A 52-week, 7-day per week delivery service will cost you $143. If the Tribune offered to provide you with complimentary delivery of their services–including add-ons not offered on their free web version of the publication–they could more than afford to give you a Kindle. The partnership would benefit both companies and promote the use of the Kindle for other content.
This is a business model waiting to happen. Book publishers are beginning to express concern over profits for e-books; HarperCollins is limiting access to e-books purchased by libraries to 26 checkouts per item. This is a topic for another post, but this move smacks of the same paranoia expressed by major label record companies when file sharing began to revolutionize the way music was distributed and accessed. Record labels refused to adapt and take advantage of the technology. We all know the result.
Parallel models for free e-book readers are out there: computer printers/printer cartridges and cell phone/provider service. A printer is almost free. You pay for the ink. Most cell phones are free. You pay for the service. I believed e-reader prices were headed under $100 before the 2010 holiday season. It didn’t happen, largely due to the appearance of the B&N nook color, which added value not seen in the Kindle. So far, so good. From my experience, in the library community, most of the questions from library customers are coming from nook purchasers. Many have already learned that the Kindle is not compatible with library e-book downloads, and many ask which device will allow them to use library resources before making a purchase. It’s a big win for the B&N, and is just one more reason to make the Kindle free.
Curiously looking for answers and providing unexpected solutions.
