Sony pushes 10 millionth e-book, may be eclipsed by Apple
updated 03:45 pm EDT, Mon May 10, 2010
Sony takes 4 years to reach 10m e-book mark
Sony today said it had recorded its 10 millionth e-book download through the Reader Store. The achievement, which is now known to have been reached on May 5th, comes about 3.5 years after the store was opened in September 2006. Sony is marking the occasion by giving out $10 credits to anyone who bought a book through its store on the milestone day.
While significant for Sony, the 10 million marker is slow compared to much more recent newcomer Apple. Its iBookstore managed 1.5 million downloads in just over a month of availability despite being limited to one device, the iPad, and one country, the US. At current rates, Apple will have equaled Sony's figure in just 7 months, by the start of 2011.
Apple's sell-through is likely to grow once the iPad launches worldwide later this month and should be supplemented by iBooks reaching iPhones and iPod touch players this summer.
Sony has had the advantage of being a pioneer in e-books and making one of the first popular e-readers, but it has sometimes been slow to adapt to new trends. It began offering a 3G-capable e-reader two years after Amazon and doesn't have Wi-Fi or some features that have been added since.
