Amazon has officially launched the Kindle Unlimited service, following a leak earlier this week.
Already dubbed as the Spotify or Netflix of eBooks, Kindle Unlimited is a new subscription service that lets customers have access to as many Kindle eBooks and Audible audiobooks as they can digest for a set price each month.
For $9.99 (£5.80) per month, customers signing up for Kindle Unlimited will get access to over 600,000 to read for free, as well as thousands of audiobooks from Audible.
“With Kindle Unlimited, you won’t have to think twice before you try a new author or genre – you can just start reading and listening,” said Russ Grandinetti, Senior Vice President of Kindle. “In addition to offering over 600,000 eBooks, Kindle Unlimited is also by far the most cost-effective way to enjoy audiobooks and eBooks together.”
However, it looks like there’s a bit of catch, as Amazon states that when you sign up for Kindle Unlimited, you get three months free membership to Audible, rather than for the duration of your subscription.
The Kindle side is offering some big name titles though, including the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Hunger Games series, Life of Pi and Twelve Years a Slave.
“With thousands of Whispersync for Voice-enabled audiobooks to choose from, you can easily switch between reading and listening to a book, allowing the story to continue even when your eyes are busy.”
Currently the Amazon Kindle Unlimited is limited to US consumers, and there’s no word on when it’ll come to the UK.
But, when it does, you’ll be able to access the service on Kindle devices and through the Kindle apps for iPhone, iPad, Android tablets and phones, Windows Phone, BlackBerry, PC, Mac and Windows 8.
Anyone in the US looking to have a go with Kindle Unlimited without commitment, Amazon is offering a 30-day free trial.
Read more: Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 7 review
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
