Dead trees and Amazon

31 January 2008 By Robert Cyran Follow @rob_cyran

Numerous companies have unsuccessfully tried to crack the digital book market. Amazon s purchase of Audible is the latest effort. Ebooks are likely to remain the Brazil of digital content a promising future that never quite arrives.

This content is for Subscribers only

Context News

Internet retailer Amazon has agreed to buy Audible for $300m. Audible sells digital audio versions of books, newspapers, magazines and other content online. Amazon sells a wireless device for displaying digital books called Kindle.

When asked about Kindle last week, Apple's chief executive Steve Jobs reportedly said, It doesn't matter how good or bad the product is; the fact is that people don't read anymore.

Over three billion books were sold in the US last year according to the The Book Industry Study Group, a research group that tracks the industry.

Email a friend

Please complete the form below.

Required fields *