Something huge is happening

• This post is longer than usual because we need to talk about Amazon and my thesis that this company is on the verge of something huge and game changing (the stock action is starting to indicate it too I believe). I can now envision a day when we read most newspapers, magazines and books on an electronic /wireless device. In this case...Amazon's Kindle. First off, most people want (and need) the mobility of reading books, magazines, and papers away from their computer..so this stuff won't go online. We read books, magazines and papers everywhere...planes, trains, parks, beaches, bed, bathroom, classrooms, offices, couch, etc. We want it in our hot little hand...the lighter and smaller (within reason) the better.
• Imagine the profitability of distributing all this stuff digitally (and wirelessly) instead of printing, storing, shipping, mailing and delivering papers, mags and books. I believe high school and college students could start using the Kindle instead of schlepping heavy textbooks around. Why continue paying $50-200 for a hard bound text book you read once? Printing and distributing is extremely expensive for publishers of books, newspapers and magazines. Publishers would love to see people read their content for a fraction of the cost electronically. Print publishers of all kinds who are now hurting could see profitability improve dramatically.
• Who sends hand written letters anymore? We all use email, instant messages and or text messages now. Now, I believe the print world is changing dramatically right before our eyes. Nearly every paper and magazine is losing circulation and advertisers so fast that many are on the verge of bankruptcy. With a market cap of $33 billion...I am pretty sure Amazon will be more valuable as a technology company distributing everything we read instead of an Internet retailer. It is a LOT cheaper, more efficient ,and saves a lot of trees to get our papers magazines and books electronically.
• Here are the pretty amazing highlights (my opinion) of Kindle device (from Amazon.com). 1. 3G wireless lets you download books in about 60 seconds right from your Kindle, anytime, anywhere; no monthly fees, service plans, or hunting for Wi-Fi hotspots. 2. Lasts 2 weeks without recharging (4 days with wireless turned on). 3. Over 250,000 books plus U.S. and international newspapers, magazines (includes automatic wireless delivery), and blogs available. You have all your books with you at all times. 4. Most NYT bestsellers are $9.99. 5. Amazon's vision is to have every book ever printed, in any language, all available in under 60 seconds on Kindle. 6. At 10.2 ounces, Kindle is lighter than a typical paperback and as thin as most magazines. Barely a third of an inch in profile, you'll find Kindle fits perfectly in your hands. 7. Kindle is completely wireless and ready to use right out of the box--no setup, no cables, no computer required. 8. A copy of every book you purchased is backed up online at Amazon.com in case you ever need to download it again. You can wirelessly re-download books for free anytime. This allows you to make room for new titles on your Kindle, knowing that Amazon is storing your personal library. 9. Kindle's screen reflects light like ordinary paper and uses no backlighting, eliminating the glare associated with other electronic displays. As a result, Kindle can be read as easily in bright sunlight as in your living room. 10. You can increase the text size of your favorite book or periodical with the push of a button. 11. By using the QWERTY keyboard, you can add annotations to text, just like you might write in the margins of a book. And because it is digital, you can edit, delete, and export your notes. Using the new 5-way controller, you can highlight and clip key passages and bookmark pages for future use. You'll never need to bookmark your last place in the book, because Kindle remembers for you and always opens to the last page you read. Kindle makes it easy to search within a book, across your library, in the Kindle Store, or even the Web. To use the search feature, simply type in a word or phrase you're looking for, and Kindle finds every instance in your book or across your Kindle library. 12. You can search and shop the Kindle Store wirelessly right from your Kindle, allowing you to click, buy, and start reading your purchases within a minute. No need to judge a book by its cover. Kindle lets you download and read first chapters for free. 13. With the new text-to-speech feature, Kindle can read every newspaper, magazine, blog and book out loud to you, unless the book is disabled by the rights holder. 14. Come across a word you don't know? Simply move the cursor to it and the definition (includes The New Oxford American Dictionary) will automatically display at the bottom of the screen. Kindle also includes free built-in access to the world's most exhaustive and up-to-date encyclopedia--Wikipedia.org. 15. Transfer MP3 files to Kindle to play as background music while you read. You can quickly and easily transfer MP3 files via USB by connecting Kindle to your computer. 16. With Kindle, you are able to download and enjoy more than 50,000 audio titles from Audible.com (Amazon just bought them out - now we know why) including bestselling audio books, radio programs, audio newspapers, and magazines. Due to their file size, audiobooks are downloaded to your PC over your existing Internet connection and then transferred to Kindle using the included USB 2.0 cable. Listen via Kindle's speaker or plug in your headphones for private listening.
• Why this is potentially (likely) game changing. 1. Readers love the ease, convenience and lower cost of their favorite content. 2. Publishers love it because they save on all the other expensive stuff other than writing (printing, binding, shipping). 3. Amazon loves it because people tend to buy more papers, magazines and books using this device and Amazon's margins are way better too...it is simply way easier and cheaper for all parties.
• Who are the losers from this massive shift that is just starting? UPS (biggest shipper for Amazon), book binders, ink manufactures, paper companies, box manufactures, trash companies, book shelve sellers, & retail book stores.
• To see the Kindle for yourself...visit the site here.
• I am eying Amazon calls for a big move.