Hindustan Times first Indian newspaper on Amazon Kindle

Hindustan Times on Kindle was launched today. Hindustan Times is the first Indian newspaper to be available on Amazon’s e-reader Kindle, the first globally-popular e-reader from Amazon.

Hindustan Times on Kindle will be available for readers at a cost of $9.99 per month. This is approximately Rs 460 per month. In comparison, you can get an entire year’s print subscription to the Hindustan Times for about half that price, and you can get some of that price recovered by selling the paper later. If you really want to compare costs, that is.

Indian newspapers on Kindle, soon

Hindustan Times said that every day, the Kindle edition of the paper will be downloaded to the e-reader at 6 AM.

Sanjoy Narayan, Editor-in-Chief, Hindustan Times said, “Putting Hindustan Times on Kindle will now enable readers across the world to get access to the paper wherever and whenever they want to in a convenient easy-to-carry format.” Technically, Kindle editions can be accessed by subscribers anywhere in the world where there is a high-speed data network.

Hindustan Times on Kindle is a pioneering move for any Indian newspaper company. Rival and bigger newspaper Times of India does not have a Kindle edition yet. In the US, most of the large newspapers are available on the Kindle. Lakhs of books are also available on the Kindle globally. Amazon has already sold a million units of the Kindle since it was launched.

Newspapers and magazines on Kindle

Ever since advertising rates started dropping, and media houses found it difficult to make any serious money out of their websites’ ads, they have been exploring alternative revenue models. Considering the popularity of the Kindle, and now the Kindle 2 in US, such an electronic distribution medium is being actively debated. It is rumoured that Apple’s upcoming Slate (or iTablet, or iPad) is going to be a platform for several newspapers and magazines. Discussions have taken place between Apple and print media executives recently.

How newspapers work on Kindle

In the US, newspaper subscriptions to the Amazon Kindle edition work this way: The wireless charges for downloading the newspaper to the Kindle is free, and is paid for by Amazon. The content (books, magazines and newspapers) is downloaded instantly, at the click of a button. Content is downloaded into the e-reader Kindle through the Whispernet 3G EVDO service by Sprint Nextel in the US. In India, it is not clear who will pay for the wireless data charges – Kindle or the end-user, and whether you can use it while roaming between telecom circles.

In India, 3G service is still patchy. Only government-owned BSNL and MTNL have 3G services in India, and private telecom operators are yet to receive 3G licences and 3G spectrum. Without sufficient 3G coverage and exclusive tie ups between Indian newspapers, wireless network service providers and Amazon Kindle, it is doubtful to see how successful such ventures can be at this point.

Amazon Kindle is not a cheap device either. The international edition of the Kindle was launched recently, with a price tag of $259. In India, the price will be higher, because of the various duties and taxes. Also, it is difficult to see many people going for the Kindle, in the absence of sufficient Indian newspapers and magazines with Kindle editions. Still, we welcome the launch of the Kindle edition of Hindustan Times, which we believe, will prompt the launch of a similar Times of India, DNA and Indian Express on Kindle in the not so far away future. The more newspapers and magazines launch Kindle editions, the more buyers Amazon will find for its gadget. And buyers will have the option of choosing from different newspapers and magazines.

Globally, several e-readers are available, all directly competing with Amazon Kindle. Recently, Barnes & Noble launched the Nook, a flashy touchscreen e-reader which became an instant hit. Others like Sony are also in the e-reader market, besides a host of smaller companies.