Amazon has just announced that the first chapter of all ebooks that are available for the Kindle can be read for free now. While this feature is still under beta testing, this move gives some insight into Amazon's e-book strategy: a wide variety of devices already support ebooks in the Kindle format, this move brings even greater accessibility to Amazon's library. Although standalone Kindle programs already exist for Windows and OSX, using the web as a platform leverages convenience and speed (no need to install anything), it becomes easy to share and instantly purchase books, and so forth.
I can't imagine this move having any ill effect upon Kindle sales and instead will serve to further promote Amazon's dominance in the ebook market...sorry Nook users ;)
I agree Sherv this is only going to add to the dominance of the Kindle. It would be almost impossible for B&N to offer a similar feature. I think it will be only a matter of time until the Kindle wins the standards war.
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