Mobipocket No Longer Accepting New Publishers!

[Michael R. Hicks]

This was interesting: Mobipocket.com is no longer accepting new publisher accounts. Instead, they're pointing everyone to DTP!

Effective September 2009, we will no longer open new accounts for publishers to sell titles through the Kindle Store or MobiPocket.com. If you have an existing account, there will be no change and you can continue to upload and sell titles using Ebookbase. New publishers with a US address and bank account can sign up to sell ebooks in the Kindle store via our self-service publishing channel at http://dtp.amazon.com

So, it looks like those who don't already have an account no longer have the Mobi option for deploying books to the Kindle store (or taking advantage of Mobi, for that matter). I'll wager that Mobipocket itself will be gone or somehow absorbed/transformed in the next six months or so...

[Gertie Kindle 'a/k/a Margaret Lake']

This was interesting: Mobipocket.com is no longer accepting new publisher accounts. Instead, they're pointing everyone to DTP!

So, it looks like those who don't already have an account no longer have the Mobi option for deploying books to the Kindle store (or taking advantage of Mobi, for that matter). I'll wager that Mobipocket itself will be gone or somehow absorbed/transformed in the next six months or so...

Yes, it's quite possible that Mobipocket is probably going to be changed.  I forget what thread we were discussing this, but there seemed to be some problems with Mobi's software that caused problems at Amazon.  Mobi is Amazon's company but it's based in France.  I think Amazon is going to want more control over them.  The biggest advantage to Mobi was that a publisher could distribute worldwide. 

I think this is Amazon tightening their controls; something that they needed to do.

[JimC1946]

I assume that you could still publish to Smashwords. One of their download options is the Kindle/Mobi format.

[Edward C. Patterson]

I haven't had one sale on Mobipocket in 2 months (except 1 copy of Look Away Silence I bought myself for my Blackberry)  

As for Smashwords - you all know, and if you don't, run don;t walk, that Smashwords catalog will be one of the feed for Barnes & Noble and Fictionwise now. All my books are currently being evaluated for approval in that catalog. I'm glad I stuck with Smashwords, eventhough sales have been limited, the convenience of being able to offer free books when I want has been convenient. NOW I'll have an opportunity to have my books in the ePub world as well.

Ed Patterson

[Jesslyn]

I'm neither an author nor publisher, but does anyone think this may be tied to Amazon's Stanza purchase?  MobiPocket seems a little 'yesterday's news' to me, while Stanza (even though an application) seems a little more forward looking.

[JimC1946]

Edward, my book changed to "approved" status earlier this week, only a few days after getting the email from Mark Coker about the B&N distribution deal. It looks like Smashwords is going through the list pretty quickly.

[LCEvans]

Thanks, Ed, for the info about Smashwords.

[Edward C. Patterson]

Jim C:

That's great.Mine are still "pending approval" but I noticed on the distributor page there's new options for Varnes & Noble there. Question: How will you know when you gt a Barnes & Noble sale? Will it report back through the Smashwords catalog?

Ed Patterson

[vwkitten]

Never Smile at a Crocodile was approved!  Oh I'm so excited.  The other ones are still pending, but this is cool!!!

[Carolyn Kephart]

I just now got the e-mail confirmation from Smashwords approving my books for B&N. I was hoping for that, since B&N carries the paper versions.

It feels so good when something actually goes right.

CK

[Edward C. Patterson]

Carolyn:

Mine need modifictions on the first page, so I'm churning through new uploads of 13 books  right now. But it will b worth it to et them on B&N and Fictionwise.

Ed Patterson

[Michael R. Hicks]

Just for fun, I'm starting in on Smashwords, too. Uploading Empire as we speak, will probably do the rest this weekend...