After Oyster, What's Next for E-book Subscriptions? - Publishers' Weekly

Where are they going?

Panzer made a trip over to the Publishers' Weekly site today.When he was digging around in the posts there, he found one about Oyster's announcement they'll be closing their doors next year.

The post by Andrew Albanese and Jim Milliot (with help from Calvin Reid) concerns the future of ebook subscription services after the demise of Oyster. The beginning of the post deals with the issues Panzer described in his post last week: Part of the Oyster staff will move to Google and the competition from other subscriber services. The post goes on to explain about traditional publishers' acceptance of the subscription model. In general, the post presents a positive future for ebook subscription services

Panzer says, "Will ebook subscription services survive is the question inquiring cats want to know."

Note: This is a h-u-m-o-n-g-o-u-s post. Bring two gallons of tea and a dozen muffins. Also bring your favorite blanket and pillow to take a nap halfway through the post.

To read the Publishers' Weekly post, tootle over to  Oyster
To read Panzer's post, tootle over to Ebook Subscription Services

Oyster, E-Book Subscription Service, Shutting It's Doors

Whew! I'm tired after all that.

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere just having a relaxing trip today. Suddenly, the quiet was littered with sniffling and snuffling and raindrops pitter-pattering on the Panzermobile windshield.

Following the trail of the commotion, our big bad kitty went to the Publishers' Weekly site. According to a post there by Calvin Reid, ebook subscription service Oyster is closing. Oyster is a service similar to a buffet dinner in that you can read all the ebooks you want per month for $9.99. Mr. Reid quotes from a post at the Re/code news site that some members of the Oyster staff will be moving to Google Play Books. Included in Mr. Reid's post is a link to the Re/code post.

Panzer followed the trail even farther and went to the Smashwords Blog site. According to a post there by Mark Coker, he (Coker) received direct notification from Oyster about the closing. Since Smashwords is a provider of indie published ebooks to Oyster, Mr. Coker was provided with information about the closing date (sometime in 2016). They both (Oyster and Smashwords) will continue their contract agreement until that time. Mr. Coker also gives his opinion on the current state of the ebook subscription service market, including Scribd and KDP Select.

Panzer says, "Hmmm. Google Play Books?"

Note: Each of these posts is l-o-n-g, but the Smashwords post is the l-o-n-g-e-s-t. Bring a h-u-g-e pot of tea, three muffins and a cushion to sit on.


To read the post at Publishers' Weekly, tootle over to Oyster
To read the post at Smashwords, tootle over to Oyster and KDP Select

Oyster To Jump Into Ebook Sales

You're making a big mistake.

Panzer found some more big news for you in the Catosphere. Yesterday our big bad news reporter told you about Kobo's  entrance into the ereader market. Today he discovered Oyster is jumping into the ebook retail market. So, yesterday Kobo announced Amazon competition and today Oyster announces Amazon competition.

According to a post by Calvin Reid at the Publishers' Weekly site, Oyster announced they'll be adding an ebook retail store to their subscription service. The store will carry ebooks from the big five publishers. While Oyster's services are only available in the U.S. now, there are plans to expand internationally this year.

Panzer says, "I think they're making a big mistake. It doesn't look like there's any place in the plan for indie authors. Smashwords has had an agreement with Oyster since the beginning and contributed a lot to their size."

Note: this is a l-o-n-g post, so bring a b-i-g cup of tea.

To read the full post, tootle over to Oyster

Oyster Subscription Service Expansion

Into the Catosphere our kitty goes.

Panzer wasn't feeling well yesterday, so he took the day off.  But ... today, he's back in the pilot's seat of the Panzermobile.

Our big, black, bad kitty boy found an interesting post on the Oyster blog site. The Oyster ebook subscription service is one of the places Panzer's ebooks are available, so he stops in there frequently.

According to the blog post, Oyster is entering a major business expansion phase. The company expansion will involve an increase in the number of ebooks available and a global expansion making those ebooks available to more readers.

Panzer says, "Hmmm. What do you think this means for the future of Oyster? Maybe a stock offering in the future?"

To read the full post, tootle over to Oyster Books

Oyster Now Available on Web & Mobile Browsers - GalleyCat

Who will survive?

Panzer hasn't been to GalleyCAT for awhile so he made a short trip there today. He found a post about ebook subscription service Oyster.

The Oyster service has until now been Smartphone and tablet based. Now the service is moving into being Web and mobile based. This will put it in competition with not only Scribd, but with Amazon as well since the (r)etailer's entry into the ebook subscription service last week.

Panzer says, "Hmmm. Let's see ... Scribd ... Oyster ... Amazon. Who will still be around in two years?"

To read about Oyster's move into the new markets, tootle over to Oyster Now Available on Web & Mobile Browsers - GalleyCat

Smashwords: How Ebook Subscription Services May Redefine the V...

Part Two for you.

Panzer wanted you to have Part Two of yesterday's Mark Coker blog post about ebook subscription services.

To read the second part of the post, tootle over to Smashwords: How Ebook Subscription Services May Redefine the V...: In part one of this two-part series, I examined business models of the all-you-read ebook subscription services.  Here in part two, I’ll ...

Smashwords: Examining the Business Model of Ebook Subscription...

Hmmm. Oyster? Where's the pearl?

Panzer and I were out in the Catosphere today and we stopped in at the Smashwords Blog.

Mark Coker has a post about the business models of Oyster and Scribd. If you haven't heard, these two are ebook subscription services. Readers pay a subscription fee and then can download ebooks they want to read.

Oyster has an agreement to carry Smashwords' authors' ebooks as part of their service. Authors were asked to opt-in before their ebooks could be carried by Oyster. This post (and a second to follow) is an explanation about the service.

If you want to learn how the service works, tootle over to Smashwords: Examining the Business Model of Ebook Subscription...: This is the first installment of a two-part series in which I explore the business models and potential impact of ebook subscription s...

The Most Popular Books on Oyster - GalleyCat

Oyster?

Now that Smashwords is working with Oyster, Panzer did a little investigating to see what's popular with the readers there. It turns out GalleyCAT was wondering the same thing.

There's no surprises on the list. The top five are:

1. The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
2. The Life of Pi by Yann Martel
3. Serena by Ron Rash
4. The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien
5. Outward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life without Losing Its Soul by Howard Schultz

If you want to know the top ten, tootle on over to The Most Popular Books on Oyster - GalleyCat

Smashwords: Smashwords Signs Distribution Agreement with Oyste...

MeWow!

Panzer discovered Smashwords has signed another distribution agreement. This one with an ebook subscription company called Oyster.  According to Mark Coker at Smashwords, Oyster is similar to Amazon's Prime membership.

To read all the details, tootle over to Smashwords: Smashwords Signs Distribution Agreement with Oyste...: Smashwords today announced a distribution agreement with Oyster, a new and innovative ebook subscription service.  Oyster offers consumers...