Online retailer Amazon.com, Inc. is close to launching a digital book library and is in talks with book publishers, according to the Wall Street Journal on Sunday. The library will enable customers to access a digitized content by paying an annual subscription fee, similar to the service provided by Netflix, Inc. (NFLX).
Amazon, the maker of Kindle electronic reader, will reportedly add the e-book library to its Amazon Prime Services, which has an $79 annual subscription for a unlimited two day shipping and access to movies and TV shows.
Amazon may also look to bundle it with its new tablet that is expected to release shortly to rival Apple, Inc.’ iPad.
The launch of the digital library by Amazon could also further harm the print media and could lower the cost of print books and the demand for them.
Meanwhile, Amazon.com was among the group that blocked Google, Inc’s (GOOG) attempt to digitize millions of books and publications to make it available online. The group included other Google competitors such as Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), and Yahoo, Inc. (YHOO) as well as librarians, legal scholars, authors, publishers, and technology companies.
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