Kindle already a success in the UK - new rumors

[Argel]

The Times report states no sources. It could well be just a piece of lazy reporting based on previous rumours.

Also the assertion that the non-launch in the UK is a 'rumour' is inaccurate. Whether it is true or false it was quoted in The Guardian as a statement from Amazon UK.

And as for Sony not launching in the UK because there is no competition from Amazon, I must have missed that class in economics.

[astra]

If Amazon doesn't launch Kindle in the UK it would not be because they don't want to but because there are problems with publishers. Sony is going to be in the same boat then.

[Argel]

Originally Posted by astra

If Amazon doesn't launch Kindle in the UK it would not be because they don't want to but because there are problems with publishers. Sony is going to be in the same boat then.

Or it could be because they can't work out a deal with a phone company. Or it could be that they can't make enough to avoid the same kind of fiasco as greeted the US launch.

Why does everyone keep banging on about difficulties with publishers when Amazon/Mobipocket has been selling ebooks to the UK for years? Not even British publishers are stupid enough to think that they can keep ebooks out of the UK.

[astra]

Originally Posted by Argel

Or it could be because they can't work out a deal with a phone company. Or it could be that they can't make enough to avoid the same kind of fiasco as greeted the US launch.

Why does everyone keep banging on about difficulties with publishers when Amazon/Mobipocket has been selling ebooks to the UK for years? Not even British publishers are stupid enough to think that they can keep ebooks out of the UK.

Fiasco in the USA? Do you mean Kindle or Sony or both?

Problems with Publishers and copyright laws: I see no other reason why Sony and Kindle were launched in the USA only.

[Razi]

Originally Posted by Argel

Or it could be because they can't work out a deal with a phone company. Or it could be that they can't make enough to avoid the same kind of fiasco as greeted the US launch.

Why does everyone keep banging on about difficulties with publishers when Amazon/Mobipocket has been selling ebooks to the UK for years? Not even British publishers are stupid enough to think that they can keep ebooks out of the UK.

Even that 'shortage' was a publicity stunt. The demand is so high that the price has actually gone ... eh, errrr... down! They are playing games with the consumers. Microsoft do this, Sony do this, even Apple do this (but at least they bring out good products after all the fuss), now Amazon have also joined the same crowd. Read somewhere, "Consumer is not the 'king', s/he is not even a subject. S/he is downgraded to an abject 'object' with which advertisers and marketers play games."

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Razi

Even that 'shortage' was a publicity stunt.

No, it certainly wasn't. All the eInk readers were in short supply for months - Kindle, CyBook, Sony, and iLiad. The "bottleneck" was the manufacturing capacity of the screen manufacturer, PVI in Taiwan. They now appear to have increased their production, and all the readers are back "in stock".

[Razi]

Originally Posted by HarryT

No, it certainly wasn't. All the eInk readers were in short supply for months - Kindle, CyBook, Sony, and iLiad. The "bottleneck" was the manufacturing capacity of the screen manufacturer, PVI in Taiwan. They now appear to have increased their production, and all the readers are back "in stock".

Well only the Kindle came out as 'the most famous eReader in short-supply' after that fiasco. They would not let go of any opportunity to generate publicity.

I've been an Amazon (UK) customer for over a decade (it used to be bookpages.co.uk till the American giants bought it off.) I have never had a problem with this one company still I'd be extremely scared of a giant corporation controlling all information. We have seen the results of the rise of the Murdoch empire in news media. Amazon are growing too big. I used to buy scholarly books from an excellent American company called www.frontlist.com. Checked their website last week and even they are bought off by Amazon now. Well, Amazon are almost in a position to decide which books are sold and which are not. Their share of the market is becoming dangerously large. With Kindle they have already made a head-start in the ebook market.

Edit: Just looked for Frontlist.com, it has disappeared! Google has some cached remains if somebody is really interested. Hope it comes back, I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't.

[pshrynk]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

Yeah .... I may be moving out of Texas or out of this part of Texas before long (because it appears they don't like us strange Buddhist types who love animals in this part of Texas), and I actually found myself examining the coverage area really closely before deciding what part of the country I might move to. Northern Vermont looked really attractive last week .... but now that I'm getting a Kindle ... not so much.

Ricky - Move to Wisconsin. We tolerate any amount of strangeness, so an animal loveing Bhuddist would barely register as part of the background. The weather sucks, but then you were looking at Vermont, so you must not be too picky. Coverage is good near Milwaukee and the EVDO is expanding slowly across the state. I even get it occasionally here in La Crosse. Madison is good, as well.

[ebabbie]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

Yeah .... I may be moving out of Texas or out of this part of Texas before long (because it appears they don't like us strange Buddhist types who love animals in this part of Texas), and I actually found myself examining the coverage area really closely before deciding what part of the country I might move to. Northern Vermont looked really attractive last week .... but now that I'm getting a Kindle ... not so much.

I grew up in Northern Vermont and go back to the Northeast Kingdom every summer. Cell phone service has been a real problem, but it looks as though some "towers" are being installed on silos here and there, so it may improve.

Good luck.

Earl

[tommy still]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Might be an idea to check out current prices - they've fallen quite dramatically over the last couple of years. I do quite a lot of internet access via my Windows Smartphone when I travel, and the prices aren't too bad at all.

A bit off topic, but I dont see how anyone can call a Windows powered phone "smart", (Having used an iPhone for the past 7 months)

[HarryT]

Personally, Tommy, I consider an open platform such as Windows Mobile to be a lot more useful as a mobile computing platform than a closed, "locked-down" system such as the iPhone where, even when Apple do get around to allowing 3rd party developers to develop applications for it, it will still be necessary to get "approval" from Apple to allow anyone to install their application on it. I can read virtually any eBook format I wish on my Windows Smartphone - Microsoft Reader, MobiPocket, PalmDoc, RTF, eReader. How many eBook formats can the iPhone read?

But that's just me. Obviously the wonderful merits of the iPhone escape me.

[TallMomof2]

DH cannot download his office mail on an iPhone, so he has a Windows phone and it does what he needs it to do.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by TallMomof2

DH cannot download his office mail on an iPhone, so he has a Windows phone and it does what he needs it to do.

I belive the new firmware (v2.0) comming out on June 30th will resolve this. It is supposed to add full compatibility with Exchange server. Of course, that is an assumtion that is what your DH's company uses Exchange.

BOb

[TallMomof2]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

I belive the new firmware (v2.0) comming out on June 30th will resolve this. It is supposed to add full compatibility with Exchange server. Of course, that is an assumtion that is what your DH's company uses Exchange.

BOb

That's great that they'll support the Exchange server but it's too late, it would cost him a couple of arms and legs to go back to AT&T (early contract termination fee and eating the cost of his smartphone). Plus I have a severe allergy to Apple products.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by TallMomof2

Plus I have a severe allergy to Apple products.

Heh... I just got an iMac saturday. Got my son an iPod Touch for his birthday Friday. (lots of fun learning the new toy.)

BOb