Okay Geek Farm
The Kindle could be free by November 2011
Brandon Davenport
When it comes to reading e-books, the Kindle has been the market leader for years, mainly because it was the first real e-reader. Other e-readers were heavy and had an eye straining screen. Most weren’t even e-readers, they were other devices (like iPhones, laptops and tablets) adapted for reading books. The Amazon Kindle was the first of it’s kind, and according to price cuts, the Amazon Kindle could be free by November 2011.
The price drops don’t lie
In October 2009, the Kindles price began to take a plunge into what appears to be a very stable, consistant decline. Thoughout June 2010 the price continued to lower almost like clock work, and after studying the pattern everyone is sure that the Kindle will most likely be free in November 2011.
Kevin Kelly (over at his blog) mentions he got to speak with Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, and point out the fact that the Kindle should be free in November 2011, according to past price cuts. All Jeff could say was “Oh, you noticed that!” with a big smile on his face.
Doesn’t it cost money to make a Kindle?
Yes it does, but Amazon could be planning a new way to grow their user base, and at the same time make a bunch more money. You see, the Kindle was expensive at first because the parts required (especially the e-ink screen) we’re very expensive. After time, the price of e-ink was reduced drastacly as it became more widely used. Since e-ink was the majority of the cost, Amazon could drastacly reduce the price of the Kindle without breaking their profit margins.
If Amazon could allow customers to pay a monthley fee for all you can eat books, it would allow them to give users the device for free (sort of like a smartphone plan), and sell many more books.
Alternatively, Amazon could give you a free Kindle when you buy a certian number of books, or when you become a prime member (a “Kindle Prime” plan could be introduced)
Would you welcome a free Kindle?
I’m sure this is a no brainer, but what really interests us is media outlets, like the New York Times. Would they be willing to embrace the Kindle as a way to distribute their content to consumers? Phil Gyford commented on Kevin Kelly’s post explaining this:
“Taking the lower figure, that means that New York Times, if it stopped printing a physical edition of the paper, could afford to give every subscriber a free Kindle. Not the bog-standard Kindle, but the one with free global data access. And not just one Kindle, but four Kindles. And not just once, but every year. And that’s using the low estimate for the costs of printing.” — Phil Gyford
I know I’d give up the paper for a free Kindle…
