News flash! Barnes & Noble buys Fictionwise for $15.7 million

Robotech_Master · 03-05-2009, 09:21 AM

TeleRead breaks the news.

It is confirmed by press release.

Wow.

Phogg · 03-05-2009, 09:22 AM

This could really work out.

Now if Borders and Hastings will get in the game...

lilac_jive · 03-05-2009, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phogg

This could really work out.

Now if Borders and Hastings will get in the game...

Border's is too poor right now.

But wow. That's big news. I wonder if it'll be a good thing or a bad thing.

Robotech_Master · 03-05-2009, 09:33 AM

I don't think there's anybody left for Borders or Hastings to buy. Well, maybe Lexcycle.

zelda_pinwheel · 03-05-2009, 09:33 AM

it does seem like good news that a big distributor like Barnes and Noble is jumping into ebooks at this level. it could be a huge step forward for them and if they find a way to integrate ebook sales into their brick and mortar shops (ebook kiosks, for instance, as have been discussed numerous times here...) it could be excellent for their own health as well during this key evolution of the industry. let's hope they are smart enough to really take advantage of the opportunity to create a fully-integrated e and paper book buying plateform.

the teleread article also makes some excellent (and reassuring) points when mentioning that fictionwise was *not* acquired by amazon or ingram ; either of them would have been a much more worrying move for the availability of "multi-format" drm-free books currently offered by fictionwise. and this is excellent news also for the availability of epub books, since amazon would almost certainly have torpedoed fictionwise's plans to integrate that format into their offer, with or without ereader drm.

hopefully barnes and noble will be able to use their relationships with publishers to encourage more digital editions of more titles.

overall this does seem like encouraging news.

Nate the great · 03-05-2009, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

Border's is too poor right now.

But wow. That's big news. I wonder if it'll be a good thing or a bad thing.

Bad. In one corner, we have a major web retailer and its ebook format (Amazon/Mobipocket). In the other corner, we have a major bookstore chain and its ebook format. The ancient Greeks would understand this situation. When the gods fight a war, it's mortal man who suffers.

On the plus side, there is the chance they will weaken each other and Epub will come out ahead.

kwjones · 03-05-2009, 09:44 AM

Now, the big question...will my B&N discount card work at Fictionwise like it does at B.Dalton?

zelda_pinwheel · 03-05-2009, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate the great

Bad. In one corner, we have a major web retailer and its ebook format (Amazon/Mobipocket). In the other corner, we have a major bookstore chain and its ebook format. The ancient Greeks would understand this situation. When the gods fight a war, it's mortal man who suffers.

On the plus side, there is the chance they will weaken each other and Epub will come out ahead.

it will be very interesting to see how this plays out. over here mobipocket is pretty much dead already ; all the new publishers are going directly to epub, all the new devices are coming with epub support, and even the existing devices (cybook) are adding epub.

i really have to wonder what is amazon's reasoning behind sticking to mobipocket (or some modified form of it). even though they bought the company it seems a bit backwards-thinking of them.

Nate the great · 03-05-2009, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

it will be very interesting to see how this plays out. over here mobipocket is pretty much dead already ; all the new publishers are going directly to epub, all the new devices are coming with epub support, and even the existing devices (cybook) are adding epub.

i really have to wonder what is amazon's reasoning behind sticking to mobipocket (or some modified form of it). even though they bought the company it seems a bit backwards-thinking of them.

Control.

AnemicOak · 03-05-2009, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwjones

Now, the big question...will my B&N discount card work at Fictionwise like it does at B.Dalton?

Well it says it'll still be run as a separate company so at least for now I'd say no.

Quote:

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

i really have to wonder what is amazon's reasoning behind sticking to mobipocket (or some modified form of it). even though they bought the company it seems a bit backwards-thinking of them.

Who knows. Since they can add epub support with a firmware update maybe they figured they'd wait until they had to add it due to market demand. Right now epub, as far as commercial books go, isn't very big at least at the big US based ebook stores. Only BoB is really doing much with it so far and a fair number of things still aren't coming out in that format.

Robotech_Master · 03-05-2009, 09:54 AM

Hmm. Here's something I'm a little worried about, come to think of it.

B&N has brick & mortar stores in all 50 states.

Does this mean Fictionwise is going to have to start charging sales tax?

yagiz · 03-05-2009, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate the great

The ancient Greeks would understand this situation. When the gods fight a war, it's mortal man who suffers.

This is like the Swahili saying: "When two elephants fight, the grass suffers".

GeoffC · 03-05-2009, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Well it says it'll still be run as a separate company so at least for now I'd say no.

Yep

"Fictionwise was founded in 2000 by Steve and Scott Pendergrast. Barnes & Noble intends to keep Fictionwise as a separate business unit and the founders will continue to operate the business."

Looks like 'business-as-usual' - at least for now ....

TallMomof2 · 03-05-2009, 10:05 AM

Congratulations to Fictionwise and I hope they continue to evolve and succeed.

Lemurion · 03-05-2009, 10:08 AM

I hope it works out - I like Fictionwise a lot and they've been getting most of my e-book dollars lately.

03-05-2009, 09:21 AM	#1
Robotech_Master Fanatic Posts: 514 Karma: 2954711 Join Date: May 2006	News flash! Barnes & Noble buys Fictionwise for $15.7 million TeleRead breaks the news. It is confirmed by press release. Wow.

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03-05-2009, 09:22 AM	#2
Phogg PHD in Horribleness Posts: 2,320 Karma: 23599604 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: In the ironbound section, near avenue L Device: Just a whole bunch. I guess I am a collector now.	This could really work out. Now if Borders and Hastings will get in the game...

03-05-2009, 09:33 AM	#4
Robotech_Master Fanatic Posts: 514 Karma: 2954711 Join Date: May 2006	I don't think there's anybody left for Borders or Hastings to buy. Well, maybe Lexcycle.

03-05-2009, 09:33 AM	#5
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	it does seem like good news that a big distributor like Barnes and Noble is jumping into ebooks at this level. it could be a huge step forward for them and if they find a way to integrate ebook sales into their brick and mortar shops (ebook kiosks, for instance, as have been discussed numerous times here...) it could be excellent for their own health as well during this key evolution of the industry. let's hope they are smart enough to really take advantage of the opportunity to create a fully-integrated e and paper book buying plateform. the teleread article also makes some excellent (and reassuring) points when mentioning that fictionwise was not acquired by amazon or ingram ; either of them would have been a much more worrying move for the availability of "multi-format" drm-free books currently offered by fictionwise. and this is excellent news also for the availability of epub books, since amazon would almost certainly have torpedoed fictionwise's plans to integrate that format into their offer, with or without ereader drm. hopefully barnes and noble will be able to use their relationships with publishers to encourage more digital editions of more titles. overall this does seem like encouraging news.

03-05-2009, 09:44 AM	#7
kwjones Groupie Posts: 178 Karma: 1546 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Rising Sun, MD Device: Sony PRS-505; Motorola Droid	Now, the big question...will my B&N discount card work at Fictionwise like it does at B.Dalton?

03-05-2009, 09:54 AM	#11
Robotech_Master Fanatic Posts: 514 Karma: 2954711 Join Date: May 2006	Hmm. Here's something I'm a little worried about, come to think of it. B&N has brick & mortar stores in all 50 states. Does this mean Fictionwise is going to have to start charging sales tax?

03-05-2009, 10:05 AM	#14
TallMomof2 Kindlephilia Posts: 2,017 Karma: 1139255 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Snowpacolypse 2010 Device: Too many to count	Congratulations to Fictionwise and I hope they continue to evolve and succeed.

03-05-2009, 10:08 AM	#15
Lemurion eReader Posts: 2,750 Karma: 4968470 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Note 5; PW3; Nook HD+; ChuWi Hi12; iPad	I hope it works out - I like Fictionwise a lot and they've been getting most of my e-book dollars lately.