Amazon Launches Kindle Store Optimized For IPhones
11 Mai 2009 - 7:39PM
Dow Jones News
Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) on Monday launched a new version of its
Kindle bookstore that is optimized for Apple Inc.'s (AAPL) iPhone,
suggesting the Internet retailer could be moving toward a
multi-platform electronic book strategy.
Amazon in March unveiled an application that makes ebooks sold
on its Web site readable on Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch devices.
It also recently bought a small start-up that enables iPhone users
to download content from a selection of more than 100,000 books and
periodicals in ePub format, an open standard for ebooks that Amazon
currently does not support.
The Seattle-based company said Apple users who want to buy a
book from Amazon will now automatically be directed to a new Kindle
store specifically tailored for the size and shape of the iPhone
and iPod touch screens.
Amazon has vaulted to the forefront of the emerging ebook market
with its top-selling Kindle ebook reading devices and its
280,000-title online book store, which create synergies similar to
those between Apple's iPod music player and iTunes music store.
But rivals such as Sony Corp. (SNE), Apple and others - some of
whom are pushing for open formats - are expected to soon launch new
products and content stores they hope will enable them claw back
some of Amazon's giant's early gains.
Amazon hasn't disclosed Kindle sales figures, but Citigroup
Global Markets estimates Amazon sold roughly 500,000 Kindle units
last year and is on track to generate $1.2 billion in
Kindle-related revenue by 2010, equivalent to 4% of its total
sales.
Shares in Amazon were up 0.7% at $78.54.
- By Scott Morrison; Dow Jones Newswires; 415-765-6118;
scott.morrison@dowjones.com