Strong Growth Predicted For Ebook Readers In 2010
Amazon enjoyed a successful year in 2009. A good deal of the credit for that must go to the Kindle ebook reader family. The Kindle 2.0 and its larger sibling, the DX, have been a huge success for Amazon. The Kindle has become the number one selling product on Amazon.
Right now, the Kindle supplies 60% share of the e-book reader market in America. The Kindle 2.0 recently launched internationally. Even if Amazon don’t achieve the same high level of success internationally – although it’s difficult to see why they wouldn’t – the increased size of the market is going to help Amazon to even better results in 2010.
There are certainly those who believe that much of the success which the Kindle has enjoyed to date has been due to a lack of genuine competition. Whilst it may be true that there weren’t many e-book readers around to go head to head with the Kindle, it would probably be nearer the truth say that the Kindle’s success was chiefly due to the fact that it was an innovative, market changing product.
There are definitely a large number of alternative readers available at the moment – or due for launch in the near future. The long list of competitors which either have their own readers on the market or scheduled for imminent release is a clear indication of the level of growth which can be anticipated in the e-book reader market. The market is new and is still developing – but it has received support and endorsements from a variety of different sources – including the world of academic publishing and numerous political bodies. Rapid expansion seems inevitable.
Another clear sign of the anticipated level of growth in this sector is the high volume of third party goods available to customise, protect and accessorise ebook readers. The majority of these items are currently intended for the Amazon Kindle. If you want a Kindle cover, Kindle reading light or a spare charger then there are plenty of independent manufacturers ready and willing to meet your needs. The choice for new readers, such as Sony’s Daily Edition and the Nook reader from Barnes and Noble will gradually expand as their popularity increases.
Just as 2009 was a good year for Amazon, we can expect 2010 to see ebook readers in general become more and more popular. Amazon’s dominance will be challenged and increased competition will drive prices lower – perhaps to the point where such readers enter the mainstream consumer electronics arena.
According to many market analysts, a price of around the $ 150 mark is needed for this to happen. Considering the amount of competition in the market, it’s not out of the question that this price point may be reached in 2010.
