Quote:
Originally Posted by latepaul
By "selling epubs" do you envisage them changing the Kindle firmware so it can read epubs, or do you mean having a non-Kindle epub store alongside the existing Kindle book store?
I find the later more likely, though it would be confusing for customers (and the prices better be the same! which means that 22c will have an effect across the board.).
For the former to work they need to make up in "foreign" device sales whatever they lose in other stores selling to Kindle-owners. Plus they need to cover the extra costs - not only the 22c but the development/licensing of new software, support and so on. I easily see it coming out as no net gain. In addition they spread the message that you don't have to buy your ebooks from then just because you own a Kindle - something many people know but a vast majority haven't really thought about.
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I would envisage them doing just what other stores do that sell more than one format. Or what libraries do that have more than one format available. Or more likely the same way they sell books now with ebooks and paper books listed under formats.
And why would they lose any more money by other stores selling to kindle owners than presently. Kobo sells epubs and kepubs and are not obligated AFAIK to let other stores sell kepubs, and there are stores selling mobi already.
As I keep saying, I don't really expect Amazon to start selling epubs, just that they could if they wanted to and that it would most likely hurt their competitors much more than it would hurt Amazon themselves if they did.
Helen