When Amazon updated their Kindle e-book reader in February 2009 with the launch of the second generation Kindle 2, it was the only reader with wireless connectivity. It took until June of 2009 for another competing reader to appear which offered wireless connectivity. Even then, that was Amazon’s own Kindle DX, a large format version of the Kindle aimed at readers of newspapers, magazines and academic textbooks.
It began to look as if Amazon was competing with itself. Which was just as well as there were no other serious competitors in evidence. Even now, towards the end of November 2009, there are still no other readers outwith the Amazon Kindle family which incorporate wireless connectivity. Amazon really have had the edge for quite some time now.
There are big changes looming in the very near future however. Sony will launch their new Daily Edition reader in mid-December and Barnes and Noble’s new Nook reader is scheduled for release at around about the same time. Both of these readers include wireless functionality and incorporate additional features, such as touch screen controls which will, in the opinion of many, put them well ahead of the present Kindles. The Daily Edition reader even permits users to borrow e-books from participating public libraries.
Nook users will have be able to choose from a selection of more than 1,000,000 e-books on Barnes and Noble’s website. Users will even be able to lend e-books to friends and family – just like a real book. So whether you look at it from the point of view of technical specification or from the perspective of user features and usability, the Kindle may find itself in the unusual position of second, or even third, place.
There will be even more competition in 2010, when other manufacturers start releasing large format readers to go head to head with the Kindle DX. Consumers will certainly benefit from the increased competition which will produce a downward price trend.
Don’t forget that the Kindle is now the number one selling product on Amazon, it seems reasonable to expect Amazon to fight back with new and improved readers of their own, new services or a mixture of both. 2010 will probably see some standard e-book format emerge which will, along with falling prices and increased functionality, quite likely be enough to see e-book readers enter the mainstream marketplace.