MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - State Department Chooses Amazon Kindle Over iPad, Nook

fjtorres · 06-13-2012, 08:16 AM

Harry, they are going to be used in an english reading educational effort. They want to distribute internally-created content (txt, html, pdf, and mobi) and licensed commercial content. The readers will be reportedly locked down and linked to a common acount so the State Department can remotely manage their content after the embassy libraries lend them out. TTS, 3G, and push content delivery are requirements.
Multi-function devices are contra-indicated given the focus and the intended use.
(They want users to read, not play games.)
This is also *not* a new effort but rather the latest phase of a multi-year effort that likely predates the iPad and ePub.

We've been discussing this over at Nate-the-great's if you're interested in the contracting issues:
http://www.the-digital-reader.com/20...-6600-kindles/

It is a very specific project and they've (wisely and cost-effectively) chose a very specific system. (And the bulk of the money in the system is *not* for hardware.)

Also of note: they are explictly asking for Kindles with front lights.

06-13-2012, 08:16 AM	#6
fjtorres Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,732 Karma: 128354696 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 26 kly from Sgr A* Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000	Harry, they are going to be used in an english reading educational effort. They want to distribute internally-created content (txt, html, pdf, and mobi) and licensed commercial content. The readers will be reportedly locked down and linked to a common acount so the State Department can remotely manage their content after the embassy libraries lend them out. TTS, 3G, and push content delivery are requirements. Multi-function devices are contra-indicated given the focus and the intended use. (They want users to read, not play games.) This is also not a new effort but rather the latest phase of a multi-year effort that likely predates the iPad and ePub. We've been discussing this over at Nate-the-great's if you're interested in the contracting issues: http://www.the-digital-reader.com/20...-6600-kindles/ It is a very specific project and they've (wisely and cost-effectively) chose a very specific system. (And the bulk of the money in the system is not for hardware.) Also of note: they are explictly asking for Kindles with front lights. Last edited by fjtorres; 06-13-2012 at 08:21 AM.