Amazon has reason to be peeved as Apple announces it will be getting into the e-book market with the release of the iBooks for the iPad. But the maker of the popular e-book reader, the Kindle, has a few tricks up it’s sleeve: a future version of the Kindle with a touchscreen and an app store.
Amazon has acquired the flexible touchscreen maker Touchco with the intention to incorporate the technology in future versions of its e-reader. Also on Amazon’s todo list: launch an app store for the Kindle.
According to early reports, Amazon’s app store will be much less restrictive than Apple’s, which is known for being a very closed environment for end users and developers. Only a few golden rules are to be respected: no VoIP software and of course, no apps that come in conflict with the sale of books on Amazon.
The essential question is whether Amazon will be able to maintain a low price point on the kindle. But more importantly, will it will be able to keep it’s share of the market with such a fierce competitor entering this space.
