I just received this email from Fictionwise a few minutes ago:
Fictionwise is committed to supporting every major eBook device, and this week we’re proud to announce that all MultiFormat eBooks at Fictionwise are now available for the Amazon Kindle and the Sony Reader. This is even true of MultiFormat eBooks you bought in the past!
For Sony Reader just select “Sony Reader (LRF)” and for Kindle select “Kindle (AZW)” from the MultiFormat download menu!
Kindle customers can even register their Kindle email address at Fictionwise and upload wirelessly with a single click from their bookshelf! (Amazon’s 10 cent wireless charges apply.) For complete details on how to set this up, click here.
Here are a few items from the FAQ mentioned in the last link:
Which eBooks From Fictionwise Work on My Kindle?
All of our MultiFormat eBooks work on Kindle, other than a small number marked “Limited MultiFormat”. Check the Available eBook Formats section of any MultiFormat eBook description page to be sure. As of December 2007, over 15,000 MultiFormat titles are available for Kindle.
Can I Use Direct Email To Kindle with Bulk Download?
Not right now, but we are investigating this. The Kindle does allow a single ZIP attachment, but we’re not sure what the size limitations might be. Stay tuned.
Can I Use the Kindle Experimental Browser to Access Fictionwise.com?
We don’t suggest it. Limitations on the Kindle screen make it difficult for complex web sites like Fictionwise.com to operate effectively. We are investigating ways to support a simplified version of Fictionwise on the Kindle browser.
Why Doesn’t Fictionwise Sell All Titles for Kindle?
We would love to, but Amazon.com makes it impossible for any other eBook retailer to sell big-publisher eBooks that require DRM encryption for Kindle. Oddly, this even includes another major eBook retailer that is owned by Amazon themselves!
We suggest you open a support ticket at Amazon.com asking them to change this policy. They could very easily allow other retailers like Fictionwise to sell Secure Mobipocket titles onto the Kindle device. Amazon.com allows other print-book merchants to sell through Amazon’s site, so why shouldn’t they allow other merchants to sell eBooks onto Kindle?
Why Does Fictionwise Support Kindle When You Have The Competing eBookwise-1150 Device?
Fictionwise has always believed in consumer choice. That’s why our MultiFormat eBooks support every major device, including many legacy devices such as eBookman and Hiebook.
We have our own device, the eBookwise-1150 which we sell through our sister-site eBookwise.com, and we think it’s a great choice for many people. But we recognize that different customers have different needs and preferences.
Way to go, Fictionwise.
Just wanted to add that I believe Fictionwise Multiformat books area also DRM-free and Fictionwise is very friendly to small publishers like BooksForABuck.com. For me this is especially good news on the Sony front because Sony, unlike Amazon/Kindle/Mobipocket, creates some cost barriers to small publishers wishing to publish through the Sony Connect system.
On the downside, many big-publisher books offered by Fictionwise are DRM and are not part of their Multiformat collection. For these books, you’ll have to stick with Sony Connect or Amazon.
Rob Preece
Publisher, http://www.BooksForABuck.com