This is big: Amazon buys Lexcycle
So, Lexcycle, the folks behind the very excellent Stanza, has just been assimilated. Lexcycle says it will be business as usual, which is an odd thing to say given that the whole damn reason one company buys another is because one or both companies do not want business to stay as usual. So, assuming things will change, here are some questions:
- How will Stanza’s store interact with the Kindle store? This has huge implications for the ebook retail market.
- Amazon just launched a Kindle iPhone app — how will it interact with Stanza? Can we merge our libraries?
- Will Stanza be able to read .azw files? Conversely, will Stanza be locked down in any way? Stanza’s flexibility and open access are key to its success. Or, to put it another way, an Australian can start sucking down ebooks on his iPhone in about 30 seconds. Neither the Kindle or the Kindle iPhone app are even available in Australia.
- Will the Kindle be able to read ePub? Can I port Stanza books to the Kindle? What does this mean for publishers?
Whichever way things go, the ebook industry won’t be the same.
