Amazon brings together readers, publishers, authors, and advertisers in a platform/environment that creates mutual value for all stakeholders and allows Amazon to capture value for itself.
Kindle
Vertical Integration Maximizes Creativity and Profit at Audible
The near market monopoly enjoyed by Amazon/Audible demonstrates the ability of vertically integrated media companies to maximize value for the customer
Barnes & Noble: Playing the Digital Game All Wrong
By now, many of us have forgotten that Barnes & Noble attempted to compete against the likes of Apple and Amazon in the e-reader/tablet market with their ill-fated Nook. Barnes & Noble invested significantly in R&D and actually produced some great devices, so why did they fail? In hindsight, it’s easy to see that Barnes & Noble was playing the digital game all wrong.