More on TechnologyTell: Gadget News | Apple News
Update: Mobipocket site expected to be back up tomorrow or Thursday
August 21, 2007 | 3:34 am
|
By David Rothman
So why has the Mobipocket site been down for days? Reportedly a problem happened with the DRM server. I’ve faxed Mobi for more details Until we get an answer, let’s not jump to any conclusions. Current ETA for the fix, by the way, is tomorrow or Thursday. Meanwhile I’ve just read an updated statement from Fictionwise:
“NOTICE: A major problem occurred with the Mobipocket DRM server at about 6:30 PM Eastern Time, Wednesday, August 15. Engineers at Mobipocket.com have informed us that they hope to be back online sometime this week, August 22 or 23. We have switched, where possible, all Secure Mobipocket files purchased during the downtime to an alternative DRM provider, Content Reserve. We have also taken all titles that could not be switched offline in Mobipocket format until the problem is resolved.
So, at this point in time, any Secure Mobipocket title you see onsale can be downloaded immediately. Titles that cannot be downloaded immediately have been temporarily taken offsale in the Secure Mobipocket format.
We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused, and we will post a new message when the problem is resolved.”
(Thanks to MobileRead and Tamas.)
|
Previous
SUBSCRIBE TO RSS
Comments:
I hope this makes more people realize the evils of DRM (maybe). I also hope that this impacts MobiPocket sales enough that they have second thoughts about using DRM (not going to happen).
I’m about to transmit the following fax to Martin Gorner, CEO of Mobipocket.
Greetings. Best of luck dealing with the problems at Mobipocket.com. I’ve just run an item in the TeleRead Web log, which as you know is one of the most popular e-book news sites. See http://www.teleread.com/blog/?p=6983 .
I’d welcome an update and a full explanation of the problem. Just what happened with your DRM servers? Was there a security problem? Did any hackers attack the servers? I assume not but am asking just out of curiosity.
Does Mobipocket still expect to get the site back up by Thursday?
What precautions will be taken to avoid such problems in the future?
Many thanks,
David Rothman
David, the fax is a good idea. I often wait months for a reply from them, even if I order something. Hope TeleRead is big enough to be heard.
Thanks for the update. News on what is happening at Mobi has been difficult to find. I got a replacement for my broken Tmobile Dash, reinstalled the Mobi reader , and was disappointed when the client couldn’t validate my rights to continue reading the book I’ve been engrossed in for a week.
I REALLY want to finish that book.
Now we know how some things work. I tried to download a Mobipocket DRM ebook that I had previously bought from Fictionwise (I bought the complete Churchill World War II history a while ago), but I received a message that Mobipocket was down for maintenance.
Evidently, at least for DRM Mobipocket, Fictionwise is a “pass through” to the Mobipocket site. I had no problems downloading non-DRM books.
I heard from a friend in Paris that Martin Görner was shot to death, and there was an explosion and fire in their server farm. I don’t have any confirmation but it would explain why they’re not talking about it.
Franklin: And so would some less-than-perfect PR sense. Mobi owes its customers a daily update via Mobipocket.com. Meanwhile, yes, we’ll note Mobi’s lack of responsiveness. If it’s going to do DRM, which requires long-term trust, then Mobi needs to earn it. – D
I confess that Mobi’s problems are my fault. The day after I uploaded my book, 54321…the Journey to a Sale, Mobi’s site went down. I Googled my book and there are over 12,000 references to it that are associated with other Mobi titles. A book about sales is now akin to books on tooth decay, infant care, gardening, and living hook-worm free. I hope the news doesn’t involve the death of anyone and is just another computer problem that I don’t begin to understand.
I bought Taber’s dictionary just 6days before form handgo and not able to download.
what a bad luck.
Paid but havent gotten it yet.
Thursday also crossed but mobipocket isnt up.
Hope it’ll start in next 24hours.
Mobipocket is still down, and still showing the same unhelpful holding page, so I’ve sent the following to Fictionwise. Maybe (just maybe) they can gee things up a bit from their end…
Name: H. Southall
Question/Comment:
I’m very surprised that you are still recommending the
Mobipocket reader when the Mobipocket site has been down for
some time and shows no sign of coming back to life. Surely
you should at least put a “news” notice about this on your
web-site, and make an effort to find out when (or if)
Mobipocket will be back in action?
regards, H. Terry (Chester, UK)
All I need right now is the free download to install the reader on my Palm. Anyone know of anywhere else to get it other than the http://www.mobipocket.com website?
Ugh! Mobipocket has been down for so long. I put the Beta 6 pocket reader on my Blackberry and downloaded 3 books two days before it went done. Everything worked perfectly. I later corrupted my BB by upgrading the OS and had to wipe and re-install everything. Now the Mobipocket reader is messed up and the keys used to read the books are not the same as they previously were. I really need them to get the site up so I may redownload the version 6 beta again and be able to read my books. If anyone knows of another reader that will work on Blackberry, please let me know. Thank you.
The Mobipocket site is back up, and you can buy some books from it, but I would *not* recommend it at this time. I bought a book for the Blackberry, but it would not transfer properly, so I emailed their tech support and posted in their support forum. That was 4 days ago, and from the looks of things, no Mobipocket “Support Team Member” has been online since then to answer people’s questions or help them resolve problems. Buyer beware! This is a perfect example of how NOT to run an e-commerce site. Too bad there are no viable alternatives for a Blackberry eBook reader.
I just did the same thing today and purchased two ebooks that will not download into the BlackBerry 8830…. UGGH!
I am giving a talk on ebooks on mobile devices too!
What a shame for Mobi but now I have the two books on my desk top in PDF format —not a happy camper here!