A new page was accidentally launched, and subsequently removed on Amazon that introduced a subscription service called “Kindle Unlimited,” which offers access to more than 600,000 titles and thousands of audiobooks on any device for $9.99 month.
This basically attests to a Netflix/LOVEFiLM streaming service but this time for Books and based around the world’s biggest bookstore.
If the plans are true, then this could change the way that Publishing and printing of books is handled forever.
The page was spotted but as spotted by GigaOM this morning, who was clever enough to capture an image of the KindleUnlimted page before it disappeared off the site. On the page it states that KindleUnlimited will offer users the “Freedom to Explore” and that users could “Enjoy unlimited access to over 600,000 title and thousands of audiobooks on any device for just $9.99 a month”
In the US (where the launch I likely to take place first) there are already a few Subscription based e-book services available, in the form of Scribd and Oyster, but if Amazons plans are true then this could change the way books are paid for an read forever.
On the list of available books it was noted that Hunger Games trilogy, Lord of the Rings and the Harry Potter series were available on the service.
Amazons big advantage would be its offering of nearly 8,000 titles in Audiobook format via its recent Audible acquisition, with Whyspersync for Voice functionality.]
See also: HBO Coming to Amazon Prime Instant Video – But No Game of Thrones
Earlier this year Apple took its previously purchase LOVEFiLM Streaming service and re-branded it as Amazon Prime Video, which they then offered free to Amazon Prime customers for a years’ service. Competing with Netflix, the additional Kindle Unlimited could make Amazon the biggest player in the subscription based entertainment industry that is currently exploding.
Amazon has yet to confirm or deny anything regarding Kindle Unlimited, but if the pages are real, then the service looks close to launch in the coming weeks.