Amazon is inviting developers to begin building apps for the Kindle, as it aims a pre-emptive strike at Apple’s widely anticipated tablet.
The company has released a software development kit for its range of eBook readers, which will allow developers to create applications and sell to them to Kindle owners – just as happens on smartphones.
According to Amazon, EA has already signed on to start making games for the device – though quite how they’ll work given the slow refresh rate of the Kindle’s E Ink screen is anybody’s guess.
The scheme is currently in beta, but Amazon has already confirmed that it will offer the same 70% royalties as Apple, though developers will need to pay their own “delivery fees” when an app is downloaded over the Kindle’s Whispernet 3G connection.
The Kindle Development Kit opens many possibilities, and we look forward to being surprised by what developers invent
“We’ve heard from lots of developers over the past two years who are excited to build on top of Kindle,” says Ian Freed, vice president of the Kindle division at Amazon. “The Kindle Development Kit opens many possibilities, and we look forward to being surprised by what developers invent.”
As with Apple, apps submitted to Amazon will need to be approved before appearing for download. The retail giant has confirmed that it will reject “voice over IP functionality, advertising, offensive materials, collection of customer information without express customer knowledge and consent, or usage of the Amazon or Kindle brand in any way”.
The company goes on to say that it will “refine” these guidelines during the beta.
This is the second big move Amazon’s made around the Kindle in the last week. The company’s also promised to give authors and publishers 70% of eBook sales, provided they play by its rules.
Disclaimer: Some pages on this site may include an affiliate link. This does not effect our editorial in any way.
