Apple Locks Horns with Amazon – Writers Writhe in the Middle

iPad vs Amazon

As Apple is getting ready to go head to head against Amazon with it’s much publicized and much hyped iPad, there have been a few issues of contention that is causing much buzz in the writing world.

According to the New York Times, Apple has made a deal with Perseus Books, and reportedly 4-5 other publishers from other sources, in order to stock their virtual shelves on their proprietary iBookstore. Perseus Books is one of the nations leading publishers, creating books for both commercial and academic purposes. Some of their smaller prints include the Zagat survey (for restauranteurs and Epicureans alike) as well as the Harvard Business School Press.

The deal will involve a business model that veers far from the Amazon relationship with it’s publishers. A relationship which at one point sparked a controversial battle against publishing giant MacMillian, who has significantly more control over pricing with Apple. Some of MacMillian’s physical books were removed from Amazon’s online store and was received with a lash of outrage from the writing community.

Apple’s business model is based on the App Store model, where they give the publishers complete control over their own pricing, subject to very limited regulatory practices. Apple would then take a 30% cut of the profits in the form of commissions. This would in turn create a much more competitive market both internally, creating price points that would suit the individual consumer. Eventually, the technology may extend to academic prints that would normally cost a student anywhere between $50-$300 a book, and cut it down to half that price.

Regardless of where this battle takes either company, it will mean a significant relief to consumers as Amazon’s current 90% market share of the e-book market will be significantly changed. Consequently, a battle of both innovation and consumer economics will continue. Apple doesn’t seem to be afraid to lock horns with any major company, and has recently gone head to head in a legal battle against Google’s Nexus One in the smartphone market.

Photo Credits: Rego - twitter.com/w3bdesign

Originally posted 2010-03-30 03:31:14.

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This post involves:

academic purposes, amazon, business school press, consumer economics, controversial battle, e book, harvard business school, harvard business school press, macmillian, marketshare, nations leading publishers, new york times, perseus books, physical books, regulatory practices, restauranteurs, virtual shelves, writing community, zagat survey

... and focuses on:

iBooks & iBookstore, iPad, News

Posted by MacNation on January 10, 2012 in iBooks & iBookstore, iPad, News.