The ever-evolving world of "publishing"

Here are just two of the exciting developments that occurred this week in the ever-evolving world of publishing:

• Amazon Joins the iPhone App Market
• Nelson Makes Books Available in All Formats for One Price

Although personally I don't understand why Nelson is choosing to give content away free with their one-price model, unless it's to drive people to buy the print product, it's still exciting in that it shows how publishers are having to rethink the traditional pricing and manufacturing model we're all familiar with.

Although it's nearly impossible to predict the next evolution, do you have any theories? Please share.

Google in the News

Too much to say, not enough time, so I'll just point you to the relevant articles (or at least three of them since I'm sure there are many more out there):

• Get Your Head Into the Clouds
• Google and Amazon to Put More Books on Cellphones
• Google Opens Mobile Access to Public-Domain Books

And what do you think will be Google's next big initiative?

The Perseus Books Group Launches Mobile Editions

(Book Business Magazine, 1/30/09)

The Perseus Books Group (PBG) announced its first mobile book editions. Working with Incelligence, a mobile phone application provider, PBG now will offer mobile editions of the following titles: "Wine Enthusiast Pocket Guide to Spirits," "Quit: Read This Book and Stop Smoking," "Your Pregnancy Week by Week," and a Spanish-language version of the pregnancy guide, "Su Embarazo Semana a Semana."

The new Perseus mobile editions will be available to millions of mobile users worldwide through Incelligence’s distribution network, which includes major carriers such as AT&T and T-Mobile, as well as independent mobile application distributors such as Thumbplay, Jamster and ClickApps.

“At Perseus, we are always looking for ways to reach readers wherever they are with books that matter,” says Rick Joyce, chief marketing officer for PBG. “Mobile editions put must-have content always in reach …. Relationships with mobile innovators like Incelligence are all part of helping independent publishers succeed in the digital marketplace.”