Kindle content is coming to cellphones - confirmed

[CCDMan]

Amazon's VP for Kindle, Ian Freed, just confirmed to us (Gizmodo) the little nugget Jeff Bezos mentioned in the Kindle 2 keynote about WhisperSync: Kindle content is coming to cellphones.

They're not ready to say which cellphones—or even when they're going to announce them—but they want them on them cellphones, plural. Pretty exciting! Hopefully, we'll know more soon.

I suspect this means that you gotta HAVE a Kindle as well for this to work, or am I missing something?

[wallcraft]

I don't think so. Why would Amazon restrict their iPhone (say) version to Kindle owners when there are millions of potential customers without a Kindle? They will presumably try to restrict access to US iPhone owners, but I don't know how (i.e. how easy this will be to circumvent). Remember, the "Kindle" reading software is virtually identical to the Java MobiPocket Reader that is on several other devices (including Blackberries). They would have to add support for TOPAZ and block all non-Amazon DRMed MOBI sites (just as they do for the Kindle) but that is probably very easy to do.

[lilac_jive]

I'm really suprised they are doing this. I figured it would be competition for the Kindle.

[Nate the great]

From what I was told, I think you don't need a Kindle if you have the cell phone app.

[CCDMan]

I'm really surprised they are doing this. I figured it would be competition for the Kindle.

Precisely why I think this is just an add-on for Kindle owners.

OTOH, it may not be competition for the Kindle - I have done bit of reading on my iPod Touch, identical interface and screen to the iPhone, and it totally SUCKS x 50 compared to the Kindle, the Sony, or any other e-paper device. The risk is that folks who have never used an e-paper device will THINK that the crappy cell phone reading experience is just like e-paper so would not buy a reader. Even my son, who is technically sophisticated, seems to have this mistaken idea.

[Nate the great]

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

I'm really suprised they are doing this. I figured it would be competition for the Kindle.

Many people have cell phones. Not all of them will want to fork over $400 for a Kindle.

[lilac_jive]

Originally Posted by Nate the great

Many people have cell phones. Not all of them will want to fork over $400 for a Kindle.

I agree, but they might lose a lot of people who were on the fence on buying one.

Just musing out loud, I can always be wrong

[CCDMan]

Many people have cell phones. Not all of them will want to fork over $400 for a Kindle.

Probably depends on how much reading they do. Ultra casual might be OK on a cell but any serious amount needs something better than a cell. I shudder to think what serious reading will do to the battery levels on your cell!

I agree, but they might lose a lot of people who were on the fence on buying one.

Yup. It would be too bad to see potential buyers steered toward the exceedingly inferior experience of cell phone reading.

[flumbo]

Originally Posted by CCDMan

Probably depends on how much reading they do. Ultra casual might be OK on a cell but any serious amount needs something better than a cell. I shudder to think what serious reading will do to the battery levels on your cell!

Yup. It would be too bad to see potential buyers steered toward the exceedingly inferior experience of cell phone reading.

I do all my reading on my iPhone (one or two novels a week) while my Sony eReader gathers dust. (note to self: need to do some dusting). I like the portability of a phone and have never had any issues with the screen hurting my eyes. I've been reading on palm and winmo devices for the past ten years.

The Sony device runs rings around any backlit device for battery life-- I was getting 2 weeks+ per charge. But, my phone is always nearby and I have chargers and docks everywhere.

I think everyone needs to keep in mind that what works for you doesn't work for everyone. For me, an eInk device is an inferior experience. That doesn't diminish your experience, just confirms that it is different.

I think that if I could load the same book on my phone and Sony Reader and keep the position synced, I would use the Reader more often though.

I'm excited about kindle/mobipocket content coming to iPhone (maybe) as many of the books I want to buy are only available in protected Kindle/Mobi formats.

[vivaldirules]

So I'm going to be here with my Sony Reader and my cellphone (the dumbest one I could fine cuz I just want to make phone calls with it) and I'll be the only one on the planet who won't be able to buy and read ebooks from Amazon? Man, am I bummed.

[llasram]

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

I'm really suprised they are doing this. I figured it would be competition for the Kindle.

I think it makes great sense. It gets them started already on transitioning out of the hardware business and back into the purely media-/service-selling business. Long-term I don't think Amazon want to become a hardware company -- way too low margins.

[goggin]

Originally Posted by CCDMan

Probably depends on how much reading they do...

that's the case for me...I've used eReader software for years on PocketPC's..and now on my AT&T Fuze cell phone. But while PocketPC screens were okay for reading books, mycell phone screen is really too small for me...I just can't seem to make the adjustment.

So I just ordered a Kindle 2...made the decision to switch to a dedicated ereader last fall...either Kindle or Sony...but waited for the Kindle 2 announcement before ordering. If Kindle 2 had been a flop, I'd have still ordered a dedicated ereader (probably the Sony 505). I love the portability of ebooks, reading anytime or anywhere...and *very important*...no more piles of books lying around making our living space look like an old attic! But I just can't hack the small screen for long periods of reading.

So I'm one example of a person who really doesn't need a Kindle, but ordered one for increased comfort and convenience so that I can more fully enjoy my favorite hobby (reading).

[Ervserver]

I'm guessing you will have to have an Amazon Kindle account...so yes in a way you will have to be a Kindle owner

[pilotbob]

I think this is a marketing opportunity. Making the Kindle store available to Cell phones even if the user doesn't have a Kindle will give them more of a reason to get a Kindle.

Also, if they can create software for Cellphones to read Kindle books... there really is no reason why they can't make a reader for PC/Mac.

BOb

[Alisa]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

I think this is a marketing opportunity. Making the Kindle store available to Cell phones even if the user doesn't have a Kindle will give them more of a reason to get a Kindle.

I agree. They get to experience a lot of the convenience of ebooks without taking a $359 plunge. If they decide to buy a dedicated reading device at that point, it will likely be the Kindle. They're picking up content sales from people they likely wouldn't have gotten as customers anyway and easing in new customers that were balking at the price.

Personally, I don't always have my Kindle with me. If I'm pretty sure I won't have any downtime where I can read during the day or don't want to carry a bag, then the Kindle stays at home. If I find myself with a few spare minutes I may amuse myself by reading the news or something on my HTC Mogul but I would prefer if I could synch up with my book. I'm really excited about this feature.