The advancement of technology has resulted in many conveniences for the 21st century dweller. Many traditional forms of media are being ‘electronised’ to ensure on-the-go convenience and practicality.

Scribd, an online reading platform that features a collection of literary material, will be pioneering a monthly e-book subscription, similar to Netflix’s monthly movie streaming subscription. For US$8.99 a month, readers will be able to have access to titles published by HarperCollins.

However, the e-book market is populated with competitors, including Apple’s iBooks and Amazon’s Kindle. What sets Scribd apart is the fact that it provides unlimited access to titles in a given time; whereas others sell individual titles, as bookstores do with books.

Scribd’s e-book subscription may gain popularity with avid book readers who will fully utilise the subscription. However, most casual readers who read over extended periods of time. They would probaly stick with iBooks or Kindle since the average price of an e-book is comparable to a monthly subscription with Scribd. Scribd may be unable to share Netflix’s success, since reading is requires time & concerted effort, unlike movies that stream for approximately 2 hours. However, the future of e-books is promising and Scribd shall spearhead this exciting literary evolution.

Sources:

• http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/scribd-harpercollins-try-out-netflix-model-for-e-books-1.1874665
• http://d.fastcompany.net/multisite_files/fastcompany/imagecache/1280/poster/2013/09/3018856-poster-p-1-scribd-harpercollins-launch-899-subscription-book-service.jpg