Kindle 2: WhisperSync for Mobiles

Competition. Competition. Competition.

That's what I see when Kindle books from Amazon becomes available on mobile communication platforms other than Amazon's Kindle.

Gizmodo and Alley Insider have some details about Whispersync that didn't quite make a big splash in the live blogs. You can visit them to see if you gather anything from this. So far, from what I can tell, Amazon is looking to distribute as much Kindle material as possible.

Here's where I can kind of guess what is going on behind the scene. Amazon is likely negotiating with the different platforms and trying to figure out how to bring Kindle-like services to say the Blackberry, Android, and the iPhone. They'll likely have a better time of it with Windows Mobile. Maybe even Palm.

There are a few sticking points they have to work out first, which may explain why we didn't hear anything more today:

• Wireless providers. If you read Onxo in the past, you'll know how I love these guys, you know, the folks who want to be our gatekeepers. Protect us from the big bad Web. They'll want a couple of bucks from Amazon for if they want use their networks. Of course, Amazon might just say "screw it" and go Wi-Fi for mobile devices.
• Wireless platforms may be negotiating to get a piece of the pie too. Microsoft less likely so but, others, not sure yet. Apple might insist on it.
• Kindle is more than just ebooks. It offers subscriptions. Audiobooks too. This is where negotiating with Apple is hellish. Apple offers audiobooks through iTunes. Granted that the iPods and iPhones are Audible-compatible, don't think Apple will just let Amazon stick a Kindle app in the app store. There'll probably be stipulations on what Amazon can or cannot sell through a Kindle app.
• Android looks like a perfect fit for Amazon since its music store is already on the Android. I'm guess we'll see Kindle here first. Perhaps even on the Pre when it launches.
• NYT is already free but its a paid subscription on the Kindle? How will Amazon reconcile this and other paid materials that are normally free?

Anyway, we'll know soon enough. But I'm still hopefully Amazon will get clever with Kindle ebook subscriptions like Audible.

Via Gizmodo, Alley Insider

Kindle 2: It's Here!

Is this the Kindle revision you're waiting for? Same price. Same size. But 25% longer battery life?

Well, not quite. $360. That's still quite expensive for an one-trick dog or horse. Still, it has some improvements that will likely get some of those well-do-to folks off the fence and into getting one.

I'll say this though. If and when Amazon does make Kindle reading library available for the iPhone, Blackberries, Android, Windows, and others, I might get it after another price drop. I think I speak for a lot of mobile warriors that we do read despite what Steve Jobs say but a $350 dedicated reader just isn't something to get excited about.

Amazon, make it $99. Provide a discount like what you do with Audible.com when you sign up for a year's worth of books. Something along that line would get the Kindle sales pumping. Readers will like it. Publishers will love it. And you can reach that $2 billion revenue projection and help those Wall Street analysts who love shooting in the dark look good for once.

Think about it, Jeff.

For today's live blog, news, and analysis on the exciting unveiling of Kindle 2, please visit mobile digerati for aggregate of Kindle-related posts and today's other mobile news.

Crazy Thought: Amazon Should Bring Books To the iPhone, Android, Blackberry, and Others

And they should. They get the best deal as far as i can tell compared to Fictionwise where I get most of my ebooks. And though Fictionwise has done a lot to make sure that their prices are more competitive since Kindle has been out, it's still difficult to pay about 30% more for the same book as folks would on Amazon's Kindle.

And there's definitely a market for it. Now, iPhone users appreciate having eReader as an app and now Stanza has more to offer readers but having more competitors is always good for mobile warriors. And let's not forget that the iPhone is only a minority in the smartphone market (even though it's not a smartphone).

There is Android where Amazon is the default music seller. Let's not forget the millions and millions of Blackberries and Windows Mobile devices. Palm folks already discovered eReader and would also appreciate Kindle compatible reading materials.

Let's hope some folks over at Amazon will do some math on this and see that volume speaks, well, volumes. And Amazon should continue to innovate Kindle. A lot of the revenues from selling books on other mobile platforms can only add to the bottomline and maybe even help lower Kindle's retail prices and the search and development that went into it.

And if Amazon is afraid people will stop buying Kindle, let me tell you this. You've got a nice dedicated reader in Kindle with a bigger screen than smartphones and most mobile devices. In time you'll also be lowering the price point for Kindle. People will flock to it as long as you give mobile readers a reason to buy it.

Recession Watch

This isn't a mobile post but it's important to mobile folks just to the same. Heck, it's important to everyone.

News.com has posted an article about websites that filled regulatory voids to help people avoid scams. As you probably know by now, the Madoff Ponzi Scam has set off a wave (three other ones that I can name off the top of my head) other criminal scams as the recession hit and investors started asking questions - like can I have my money back.

It's quite simple, my fellow mobile warriors. If it's too good to be true, it always is. There is never a sure thing in an investment. There is always a certain level of risk. Otherwise, everyone would be doing it, right?

News.com listed a couple of sites where you can visit for scams updates and maybe find out if you're a potential scam victim.

• Scam Victims United - I really like this one. It lists an easy to see menu of types of scams and each scam is explained to the visitor of how it works, how you can protect yourself, and resources for victims.
• Scam Warners - There's a forum for you to get into right off the top. It's when you click on "Useful Links" that you find a lot of resources.

Frankly, both sites go hand-in-hand, each offering varying levels of information and presentation. Both very useful. I hope everyone go and visit, not as victims, but to educate ourselves against scumbags. Given how vulnerable we all are in these tough times, there are those who would pray on us.

Via CNet News

More than Just 100Gbps, Korea Looks To Up Wireless Internet Too

Yesterday, we wrote about Korea's plan to increase broadband access to 1Gbps by 2012.  That was no the whole story.  Korea will be upgrading their wireless network to increase mobile Internet access from 1Mbps to 10Mbps.  Just like brandband access,  mobile access will increase ten times.

So, here are the highlights of what the Korean government, with the political will, is willing to do:

• $24.6 billion will be spent over the next 5 years for the IT upgrade.  This project will be undertaken by government and private concerns.
• 120,000 Jobs is estimated to be created.
  
• Mobile Internet access will increase to 10Mbps.
• Existing landlines will be automatically converted to VOIP.
• IPTV image clarity will increase 16 times.
• IPTV will allow ecommerce and educational applications.

Okay, so we better get cooking here in the US.  Heck, this goes for folks everywhere else in the world.  Mobility is the future.  IPTV, VOIP, or just mobile Internet, more and more folks are relying on the mobile devices to be more productive, stay in touch, and be untethered from their cubicles.

In the US, the House passed their version of stimulus pack while the Senate is expected to take up their own version of the stimulus this week.  We're not even close to getting this thing done.  There is money for telecom infrastructure but we won't know until the Senate pass their bill and reconcile their version with the House bill.  After House and Senate finalize the bill, it will go to the President for his signature.

Via:  Joon Gang Daily

Mobile Digerati

I will start providing periodic mobile updates that I feel are important to all mobile warriors.

Be it politics, economics, or just cool mobile developments and gadgets, I'll post them as I can but I've also posted a lot of posts, blogs, and articles I read throughout the week at Mobile Digerati that I think you might also be interested in reading as well.

I've also created a mobile gaming section.  I just know mobile gaming is going to be huge in 2009 despite the current economic conditions.  As I've posted a couple of days ago, 2009 will be very busy for mobile news.

South Korea To Get 1Gbps By 2012

As Gigaom pointed out, 1 Gbps is 200 times faster than the typical high end DSL or Cable Internet access speed at 5Mbps.  200 times.  Let's do this again, 200 TIMES!
Oh, did I mentioned I upgraded my DSL service to 3Mbps this weekend?  And before that I was hovering around 1Mbps?  That means by 2012, Koreans will outspeed me by 333 times.  Of course, they're ready getting 100Mbps.  So, they'll be growing their download speed by 10 times.

To put that in perspective, Verizon FIOS offers 50Mbps download.  ATT's U-verse offers a mere maximum speed of 18Mbps.  And it's not even available in most areas.

Now, a lot of folks, including myself, are doing just fine with what we've got.  I'm not a big downloader.  I do what everyone do:  watch Youtubes, e-mail, blog, surft the web.  3Mbps is good enough.  However, a peak down the road, a few years from now, more and more folks in the US will be relying in their Internet for video conferencing, VOIP, and watching televisions and videos.

Onxo has focused on mobile Internet but this is an issue we cannot ignore.  We've pushed for more broadband infrastructure expansions.  Government stimulus aside, the provider who is willing to invest through this downturn (and it's not going to last forever) will emerge with an huge speed advantage and reliablity over its competitors.

Maybe we don't need 1Gbps.  Yet.  Providers should get us to 50 or 100Mbps just to avoid looking bad to the rest of the world.

Via Gigaom