Amazon launches Kindle instant previews in India

Kindle On The Table

Amazon today announced the launch of Kindle instant previews in India, a feature that makes it easy for readers to read and share eBook excerpts for free. With one tap in line with the article or blog post they are reading, users can just start reading – no need to sign up, sign in or install an app. Kindle instant previews simply bring the book sampling experience online. The reading experience also now includes a quick and seamless way to share excerpts from one’s favorite eBook with anyone.

Kindle Oasis Reader

Any website, including bloggers, publishers and authors can now integrate the preview experience by embedding a widget on their sites, blogs or apps.  Once the link is embedded on the website or blog, the book cover image changes to a free sample of the book, without needing to redirect the reader. For book review sites, this will deliver an enriching customer engagement. Through the Amazon Associates program, these publishers and bloggers who are Amazon associates will also earn an advertising fee from the sale of that particular book which the user discovered through the URL. Anyone can easily copy and embed the link for a book by visiting the book’s detail page on Amazon.in and clicking the “<embed>” link next to sharing options like Facebook.

“We were inspired by various media formats that existed on the web and within applications, like videos and music, giving people immediate access to content. We were keen to do the same with books. Kindle instant previews extend the ‘Look Inside The Book’ experience already available on Amazon.in to any site or app referencing books in any way,” said Mike Torres, Director of Product Management for Amazon’s Kindle.

Kindle instant previews have seen significant early adoption in the US, with millions of views from readers sharing with friends and placements on eminent partner sites including Business Insider, BookBub, Bing search, and more.

Several popular names have come on board to be the early adopters of Kindle instant preview in India. These include:

  • Marquee author, Chetan Bhagat
  • Top publisher, Westland Ltd
  • International publishing consultant, Jaya Bhattacharji Rose
  • Author-blogger, Yashodhara Lal
  • Independent blogger, Smita Beohar

According to Chetan Bhagat, “Kindle instant preview is a natural extension of the reader’s experience on my site. I have seen that customers come back to consume new content and share links frequently.”

“I love reading and sharing with friends,” said Bekxy Kuriakose, an avid eBook reader and blogger. “I just select a book or highlight a quote in the Kindle app, and share it on Facebook, WhatsApp, or email.  My friends get a link to the Kindle instant preview, and with one click they can just start reading a free sample of the book—even if they’ve never used Kindle before or don’t have the app on their phone yet.”

 

Learn more about Kindle instant previews: amazon.in/kindle-instant-previews

About Shakthi

I am a Tech Blogger, Disability Activist, Keynote Speaker, Startup Mentor and Digital Branding Consultant. Also a McKinsey Executive Panel Member. Also known as @v_shakthi on twitter. Been around Tech for two decades now.

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