Monday, May 21

U.K.’s Waterstones Scraps Plans to Release Own E-Reader, Will Sell Kindles Instead


Kindle Touch In Hand
Waterstones, the U.K.’s biggest bookseller, has scrapped plans to launch its own e-reader lineup and decided to partner up with Amazon to sell Kindle devices instead.
The move will see Kindle e-readers introduced to over 300 Waterstones stores throughout the U.K. as part of the retailer’s big refurbishment. In many stores, Amazon’s device will get a dedicated Kindle section that will be kitted out with free Wi-Fi and in-store coffee shops.


It also signals the end of Waterstones’ plans to release an e-reader of its own, which was promised to be “substantially better” than “that of its Internet rival.” But one analyst believes this move will be beneficial to both Amazon and Waterstones. Douglas McCabe from Enders Analysis told the BBC:
“Kindle has a massive market share of digital book reading in the UK, and Waterstones will start to take a cut of it.
“However, for all its success, Amazon does not have a solution for ‘discovery’ in physical or digital [books] that even comes close to the merchandising skills inside a branch of Waterstones.”
For consumers, this seems like a great move. You’ll now be able to browse and buy Kindle devices in your local Waterstones, and with very little details on Waterstones own device anyway, it’s unlikely you’re going to be disappointed that that’s now scrapped.
Are you pleased that Waterstones will be selling the Kindle?
[via The Next Web]

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