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iPad, the revolution for publishers
The publishers have high hopes that the long awaited Apple iPad attract new readers and boost revenue from digital content, but few are confident that the new device by itself, can turn around the industry, mired in crisis.
Some analysts warn that the device is only part of the solution to drain cheaper readers to content on the Web, given that publishers are developing a comprehensive strategy which includes smartphones and other mobile devices.
“It’s not a silver bullet or miracle cure, is a bronze bullet, and you’ll need a large M-16 full of them,” said analyst Mike Vorhaus, president of Magid Advisors, who believes that the iPad would increase between 10% and 20% digital revenue of publishers.
Investors and analysts are cautiously optimistic about the prospects of companies like Time Warner, Conde Nast, New York Times and HarperCollins on their performance in that market.
In any case, the iPad, with its book reader functionality iBook, Apple puts the gates in a digital publishing market that started the electronic reader Kindle from Amazon.com.
The price of the device (the cheaper version without 3G, goes for $ 499 U.S.) and functions as much (is a complete multimedia computer with touch screen) could catapult.