I was just musing on a post about the impacts of Amazon’s Kindle for iPhone app. One of those potential thoughts was to examine what it means to independent eBook content and software providers. Fictionwise is a notable example with their eReader platform and already there’s a change in the winds. Today, TeleRead reports that Barnes & Noble purchased Fictionwise in a deal valued around $15.7 million.
My immediate hope out of this deal is that Fictionwise continues along the same path it has for years: simple DRM (or no DRM!) and support for multiple devices and platforms. The question in my mind is this: does Barnes & Noble have the clout to get current titles in a Fictionwise format sooner and for less than today. If so, it’s a win-win from where I stand. I’ve also got my fingers crossed that we see eReader support on FoxIt’s upcoming eInk device.
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