Third Party Manufacturers Happy To See E-Book Reader Sales Continuing To climb
When you look at the current situation unfolding in the e-book reader market – Amazon dominating the market with a 60% share, Sony following in a strong second with 35% and the rest of the world playing catch up – it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement. There are now so many manufacturers with their own e-book readers either on the market or in development and about to hit the market, that it’s easy to see some kind of e-reader war looming in the near future.
Prices will fall as the manufacturers slug it out and, as prices come down, consumers will buy even more e-book readers. Their might even be some kind of VHS V Beta-max fight to establish the “standard” format for e-books to be stored in.
It’s easy to forget that this is a market which, until a few months ago, didn’t even exist. It was only in 2009 that e-book readers really took off – although they had been around for over a decade. The first one was the EBookman by Franklin and was launched in 1999!
Apart from the producers of the e-book readers themselves, there are a good number of independent suppliers who make accessories – covers, reading lights, screen protectors, reading stands, chargers – you name it, somebody will make it. Companies like M-Edge for example, are becoming well known for their kindle accessories - they must be absolutely delighted at the way the market is taking off right now. It looks like 2010 will be an even better year for e-books and e-book readers.
