its very difficult to establish a successful content distribution platform solely on the web, without a hardware attached to it that will obligate users to consume content on the specific site.

So he doesn't get an employee discount? The mobile premium SMS/WAP push industry already established this science years ago, can't we agree?

With that said, can't we also argue the issue is not content but owning the hardware platform and delivery of content? Just as the US carriers has a lockdown on the Premium SMS through their phones and networks, Apple and Amazon is doing the same thing with their mobile devices.

Here is my prediction – content providers are going to finally get a clue after getting played by Apple/Amazon and realize they need to own the mobile device they distributing content. Barnes and Noble and Sony is now figuring this out also.

So expect these mobile e-readers to adopt to the cell phone model of being offered for free and the focus is more on content purchases. This is my prediction.