Michael Tamblyn, Kobo Books: Launched December, 2009. David vs. Goliath story: ecommerce, bricks and mortar, search. 10 months to get 1st million users, 70 days tyo get second million users. Delivered books to 200 countries, 200 employees. Year past: 5 things learned – 1. happening faster than we ever thought; 2. price landscape has changed, price tolerance has changed, two peaks $8 and $10 and “agencyland” is much lower in sales, new is price points at $1.99 and $2.99. Half of low prices are publisher experimentation and the other half is from self-publishing; 3. self-publishing exploded, represents 7% of their sales worldwide; 4. tablets didn’t kill e-ink, e-ink customers read more, average e-ink purchase is 15% more and average orders are 49% more, customer lifetime value is 66-126% more valuable than others; 5. this is happening all over the world. For year ahead want to create a better “reader” experience. This means creating a strong social reader experience. Reader awards have become very popular among their readers and readers share these awards more than anything else. Figured out what perfect e-ink reader is like, brining out a new Kobo ereader – a touch edition, soft keyboard, professional design, integrated with Reading Life and come in many languages. Priced at $99 to $129.
Abe Murray, Google: launched Google ebooks in late 2010. Users found over 4 million ebooks. 2.5 million app installs. Most pages read in apps and most books are read on the web. Many users download epubs and really like e-ink devices. 25% of users read most on the web, 1 in 4 on phones, 1 in 5 on ereaders and the rest on tablets. Most users have only one device and a small number have 2 or more devices. Top cities by sales vs. population, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington DC.
Yoshinobu Noma, Kodansha: from Electronic Book Publishers Association of Japan and from Japan’s largest trade publisher. Published ebook about tsunami and downloaded to 49 countries . This highlighted how vital ebooks can be in the publishing industry. Enabled Kodansha to deliver books to large audiences in Japan free of charge. The EBPJA has 43 publishers in Japan. Purpose is to promote the ebook market. Three principles for the association: secure interest and rights of authors; provide most convenience for readers; promote co-existence of ebooks and printed books. EBPJA has joined the IDPF. Japanese language has some unique features – vertical reading and 3 different character sets and would like to see these become part of the global standards and wants Epub to support them.
