Next week is the final week of July. The launch window for this was touted as late June, July.
There are two possible problems:
As a wholesaler for the independents, Google’s plan is to provide retailers with a single digit share of the revenue generated.
Single digit share of revenue? So, basically indie print booksellers will be getting what amounts to a Tip Jar from Google?
And then there’s the possible real-life customer experience:
Customer: Oh my god! I saw your sign. You have eBooks now!
Bookseller (proudly): Yes, we do!
Customer: This is so great! Now I can buy from you for my Kindle!
Bookseller: Um, no. Not exactly …
Because the Kindle does not do ePub. And so far there’s been no indication that Google Editions will push out Kindle-format eBooks.
And how would that work if they did, anyway? Google to Amazon to Kindle? It seems to me Amazon would want a cut of the action too.
Maybe that’s why the Google Editions payout to stores is a Tip Jar.