Amazon Launches a New Version of the Popular Kindle Book Reader
By Azam on February 9, 2009 
Amazon has launched a sleeker and thinner version of the Kindle book reader likely to gain more avid users of ebooks and open up a new market of digital readers. The Kindle has been very popular and has been reported to outpacing the sales of iPods when they first came out according to research report from Citi Bank analyst Mark Mahaney. Also, Oprah has been a promoter of the Kindle likely to only fuel the fire for sales as in similar fashion Oprah Book Club with books sales. The sales posing an interesting opportunity for digital media sales with a frictionless transaction and most books are priced at $9.99 which is below most hardcover rates or new releases. Amazon is changing the way readers consume the printed media and the way the industry functions.
The Kindle II is much sleeker and attractive device that will likely be more appealing to readers and based on the previous early adopters of the kindle. The device is much thinner and easier to carry around and has additional features. The notable features are improved screen, text to speech, and additional features are expected to be announced. Jeff Bezos mentioned the device will be compatible with other devices such as mobile in near future. The device is likely to evolve into further functionalities and capabilities as versions come out. The likely features mentioned among analyst are wifi, color, multi format, etc
Amazon has not revealed the number of Kindles actually sold, Citigroup Inc. analyst Mark Mahaney believes 500,000 units were shipped based on reports from Sprint Nextel who is the sole provider of Whispernet. Sprint/Nextel’s Whispernet is the service that allows Kindle owners to download books, surf the Web and update magazine/newspaper subscriptions onto their eBooks. Amazon has a lead in the market for ebooks and device readers from competitors like Sony and Plastic Logic with the closet comparable offerings. The industry will likely need to adjust as well to the new digital offerings as the medium increases popularity. New business models will need to evolve with the increasing amount of digital media available on the web moves onto devices like Kindle and online access to digital content will likely ensue.
Tags : Amazon, CitiBank, digital reader, ebooks, Jeff Bezos, Kindle, Kindle II, Mark Mahaney, Oprah, Plastic Logic, Soney, Sprint Nextel, Whispernet