Amazon to announce plans to open Kindle app store

Posted on 21 Jan 2010 at 14:37

Amazon has announced plans to open an app store for its Kindle eReader, allowing developers to build applications that take advantage of the persistent 3G connection, E-Ink display and seven-day battery life.

The company will release a software development kit (SDK) next month that will include sample code, documentation and a Kindle emulator that runs on Windows, Linux and Mac desktops. Participants in a limited Beta test will get first access.

This follows on from yesterday's news that Amazon is increasing the royalty authors receive from books sold on the Kindle. Software developers who publish their apps via the new Kindle app store will receive the same 70 per cent royalties as e-book authors, which matches Apple's terms for developers who write software for the iPhone and iTouch.

It's likely that Apple's tablet will be a far more sophisticated (and expensive) device than the Kindle, designed more to play back video and music than to display e-books. While Amazon seems to be trying to stamp its hold on the ereader market before Apple's device hits the shelves, the introduction of a competing product from such as well-known name could cause developers to hold off making a decision about which platform to write for. In any case, the competition will give publishers a bargaining chip in negotiations with Amazon.

Author: Barry de la Rosa

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