E-Book Reader Competition Growing

In February 2009, when Amazon updated their Kindle e-book reader with the release of the improved and enhanced Kindle 2 reader, it was the only reader offering the facility of wireless connection. It took until June of this year for another reader to offer a similar wireless connection service. Even then, that competing reader was Amazon's large format Kindle DX, which was specifically aimed at the newspaper, magazin and academic textbook audience.

It really started to look as if Amazon was its own competition. Just as well maybe - there were certainly no other serious alternatives on offer.

Even in late November 2009, there are still no e-book readers apart from the Kindle 2 and DX which have wireless functionality. Amazon have enjoyed the leading position for quite a long time now.

That's all about to change though. The Daily Edition reader from Sony will be launching around mid-December and the Nook from Barnes and Noble will debut around about the same time.

Wireless connectivity is included in both of these readers, along with some additional features like touch screen controls. In many people's opinion, that will be enough to put them in front of the Kindle. Sony's reader even lets users borrow e-books from participating lending libraries.

The Nook will allow its users to access a collection of over 1,000,000 e-books on the Barnes and Noble website. Users will even be able to lend e-books to friends and family - just like a real book.

Whether from the perspective of technical specification or user functionality and usability, the Kindle family may find itself relegated to the unusual position (for Amazon) of being second, or possibly even third, choice.

In 2010 there will be even greater competition as other manufacturers begin to release large format e-book readers to compete directly with the DX. One thing is guaranteed - users will profit from the higher competition levels which will produce a downward pressure on e-book reader prices. Remembering that the Kindle is now Amazon's number one selling product, it also seems likely that Amazon will fight back with new, updated devices and new services. Next year will likely see the emergence of a standard e-book format - possibly ePub - and this, along with lower prices and enhanced functionality, will probably be sufficient to take e-book readers into the mainstream consumer marketplace.

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