Amazon Plays Hardball With Publishers, Releases Kindle for Mac

TechFlash reports: Amazon.com continues to extend its Kindle ecosystem to other devices. The company just announced a new free Kindle application for Mac computers, allowing Mac users to browse, buy and read Kindle electronic books. Amazon already offers Kindle apps for the iPhone, iPod touch, BlackBerry, and Windows PCs (and promises one for Apple's new iPad too).

Meantime, the New York Times reports Amazon is playing more hardball with publishers in negotiations over electronic books. The online retail giant is threatening to stop selling books by publishers "unless they agree to a detailed list of concessions regarding the sale of electronic books" including that "that they lock into three-year contracts and guarantee that no other competitor will get lower prices or better terms," the Times reports.

Amazon tussled openly with Macmillan, one of the big publishing houses, a few weeks ago, temporarily removing the buy button from Macmillan books (both printed and electronic) following a dispute over e-book pricing. Amazon later backed down and said it would have to "capitulate" to Macmillan's terms.

Amazon's frenzy of activity comes as Apple prepares to release its multi-function iPad tablet next month. The iPad is shaking up the young e-book market, giving publishers the ability to set higher retail prices on e-books (up to $14.99) and emboldening publishers to demand the same terms of Amazon.

Amazon has long favored a $9.99 price point for new and best-selling digital titles. And the company appears to be using its vast market clout to try to keep a competitive edge against Apple.