Amazon launches Kindle Unlimited in US

Amazon has officially launched its Kindle Unlimited e-book subscription service in the US today (18th July).

As reported on Wednesday after a test of the service was spotted (16th July), 600,000 e-books will be available to read on kindle devices on subscription for $9.99 a month.

Big brands such as J K Rowling’s Harry Potter series, the Hunger Games trilogy, Diary of a Wimpy Kid books and The Lord of the Rings are available to read on the service.

Self-publishing authors who sign their books exclusively up to the Kindle Select programme will have their titles automatically made available for Kindle Unlimited and the Kindle Owners' Lending Library. If indie authors sign up to the Select service, they "earn a share of the KDP Select Global Fund based on how frequently Kindle Unlimited customers choose your book and read more than 10% of it, or KOLL customers download it."

Subscribers to the service will also be able to listen to over 200,000 audiobooks on Audible as well for a three-month free trial.

“Finding a great book is easy, and there are never any due dates—just look for the Kindle Unlimited logo on eligible titles and click ‘Read for Free’,” the company said.
It is offering customers a free 30-day trial.

In response to a question from The Bookseller about when the service would launch in the UK, an Amazon spokesperson said: “Nothing to share now, stay tuned.”

Kindle Unlimited will also offer Kindle exclusives.

Amazon has also said the service is available across devices, including iPhone, iPad, Android tablets and phones, Windows Phone, BlackBerry, PC, Mac and Windows 8. The company is also offering subscribers three-month free membership to Amazon Prime.