Barnes & Noble tries to sneak into the ebook market

What’s B&N’s differentiation?

Barnes & Noble Plans Online Bookstore to Battle Amazon

The world usually doesn’t reward also-rans and imitators (exceptions as always: Microsoft).

Other details:

Currently e-books are excluded from its usual B&N loyalty program, but will consider it.

Claims it’s the largest e-book store in the world, with over 700,000 titles.

Blackberry finally ready to do some heavy lifting

Instead of skating by using one off fixes, they are now going after the iPhone:

BlackBerry Desktop coming to the Mac

Finally, an aggressive move from a competitor. That’s how you get noticed.

New billion dollar music company?

Not bloody likely:

Spotify Plans US Launch, ‘Could Be A Billion-Dollar Company’

Ek said on Times Online’s report it’s valuing itself at £200 million: “If someone’s willing to pay £200 million for it, that’s what it’s worth. But would I sell the business for £200 million? The answer is no. If it’s done right, this could be a billion-dollar company.”

Economics of mobile devices: market share v. profit share

WSJ:

The two [Apple, RIM] accounted for only 3% of all cellphones sold in the world last year but 35% of operating profits, according to Deutsche Bank analyst Brian Modoff. The disparity will become even starker this year when, he estimates, the two will take 5% of the market in unit terms but 58% of total operating profits.

Apple, RIM Outsmart Phone Market

Market share seems nice but unless you achieve monopoly status (cough Microsoft cough), profit share is better.