Amazon scraping together Kindle 2 app store as Apple “iSlate” looms

Apple’s app store is legendary in its breadth of offerings made possible by 125,000 developers who have created over 100,000 applications. With rumors flitting back and forth regarding Apple’s upcoming product announcement, Amazon has decided that sitting on its laurels isn’t an option.

The Kindle 2 is a wonderful reading device, but the segment of customers interested in a single purpose device is limited and liable to switch if something else provides reading plus more. So Amazon is taking a cue from Apple’s playbook and it’s reaching out to developers asking if they’d be interested in developing applications for the Kindle 2.

eBook readers like the Kindle 2 have thus far used black and white E Ink which has a low refresh rate but extremely long battery life and a paper-like reading experience. Catering to those specifics will be a challenge for some developers, but may potentially create uniqueness in Amazon’s app store that can’t be directly copied by Apple’s.

A convergence of competitors is taking place surrounding mobile phones as engineers continue to pack more functionality into compact form factors. Garmin’s is one example, which is working hard to enter the mobile phone industry as its standalone GPS products begin to lose relevance. Most smartphones now provide built-in GPS functionality with turn-by-turn directions, just as the most popular smartphones also provide compelling app stores.

Amazon must follow suite with the Kindle 2 or multi-function devices like Apple’s rumored “iSlate” or even the Barnes & Noble Nook encroach on the eBook reader space but bring along additional bits of productivity and fun.

Even so, Amazon boasts a large and loyal following of Kindle 2 users who are passionate about reading. Comic books are another strong opportunity where volumes of content and imagery could port to the eBook space. Of course comic collectors everywhere may scoff at the thought of losing out on opportunities for mint condition, first season prints. The book industry is having similar growing pains right now and this is only the beginning!