Amazon slams book on Google's fingers
Amazon slams book on Google's fingers
Nov 7, 2005: Google has been stirring up a lot of trouble of late with its controversial plan to scan the worlds libraries and put them online. A lot of publishes were leering at it and unmuzzling their lawyers, yet whilst Google has attracted venom the news that Amazon is moving into book scanning has gained a far more velvety reception.
Building on its successful Search Inside the Book technology, Amazon is developing two new programs that will allow customers to search the complete interior text of hundreds of thousands of books and purchase online access to any page, section or chapter of a book, as well as the book in its entirety.
Amazon seems to be taking a page out of Apple's book by offering up parts of a book for sale including the whole, however it doesn't stop there. Customers will also be able to upgrade their hard copy purchases. For an undetermined fee one will be given access to an online version of their hard copy purchase, allowing them 24 hour web access to the complete text.
"Amazon Pages and Amazon Upgrade leverage Amazon's existing Search Inside the Book technology to give customers unusual flexibility in how they buy and read books," said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO, Amazon.com. "In collaboration with our publishing partners, we're working hard to make the world's books instantly accessible anytime and anywhere."
"It is important for the publishing community to explore new business models for digital delivery that compensate publishers and authors fairly. We look forward to working together with Amazon as they develop these innovative new programs to expand the market for digital content," said John Sargent, CEO, Holtzbrinck Publishers.
All the buzz around Google's plan has no doubt built up some excellent publicity for Amazon's high road venture. Whilst it hasn't released a lot of details as yet, it looks like its business model is on the right track.
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