４０社以上と契約（Contract with more than 40）

出版大手の学研ホールディングスと、主婦の友社、ＰＨＰ研究所など複数の中堅出版社が、インターネット通販最大手のアマゾンと電子書籍サービス「キンドル」日本版の配信契約で合意した。３社より小規模な出版社を含めると合意は４０社以上に上る。キンドルを巡って大手・中堅出版社の契約合意が明らかになったのは初めて。
　紙の本の販売で国内大手書店と一、二を争い、電子書籍でも欧米で実績を持つアマゾンは、日本の電子書籍市場の最重要プレーヤーになるとして本命視する見方が業界内には根強い。キンドル日本版の開始時期について、アマゾンのジェフ・ベゾス最高経営責任者（ＣＥＯ）は先週、「年内に発表する」と語った。
　学研は昨年、アマゾンの紙の本の年間売り上げランキング５位。自社の電子書籍を販売するサイトを運営し、紙と電子の同時発売にも積極的で、約千点の電子書籍データを保有する。主婦の友社は早くから電子雑誌に取り組んでおり、ＰＨＰはビジネス書が中心。
日本の紙と電子の出版界を脅かす大きな勢力に成長しそうな感じですね。 

Gakken Holdings and several mid-sized publisher of a leading publication, Shufunotomosha, such as PHP Institute, has agreed in the contract of service delivery the Japanese version of "Kindle" e-book Amazon's largest mail order and Internet. Agreement amounts to more than 40 companies with the inclusion of a small publisher from three companies. It became clear that the consensus agreement of major and medium-sized publishers over the Kindle is the first time.

Amazon with a proven track record in Europe and the United States struggle, even in e-book, the view that vision favorite as will player the most important market e-book in Japan in the industry is deep-rooted one, the two bookstores and a major domestic sales of paper books. Start time for the Japanese version of the Kindle, said Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos of Amazon (CEO) last week, "and announce the end of the year."

Gakken last year, ranking fifth annual sales of paper books of the Amazon. Operates a site that sells e-books of their own, is also actively released simultaneously in paper and electronic, e-book that holds data about a thousand points. Shufunotomosha has been working on early electronic magazine, PHP is centered on business books.

I feel is likely to grow into a major force threaten the paper and electronic publishing industry in Japan.