Ookbee which happens to be the largest online ebook store in Thailand is in an overdrive with major expansion plans being worked out. That is hardly surprising, considering every ebookstore around the world worth its salt is busy charting their own growth strategy. However, what has made things a bit sticky for Ookbee is that their keenness to have a bigger presence in the world ebook scene has pitched them against its own partner companies. While competition is healthy and promotes growth, for Ookbee, there does exist the risk of things getting ugly.
Now Ookbee has to its credit the lions share – read over 90 percent – of the Thai ebook market. It also has presence in Vietnam and Malaysia. The company had recently released an iOS app and hopes to launch an online subscription based Netflix-Style-real-all-you-can Ookbee Mee service soon. It shares a business relationship with B2S and AIS though all of their recent ventures have brought them head to head with its partners than being on their sides. From what seems evident is that it seeks to have a more active role to play in the ebook business rather than being on the sides lines with other calling the shots.
However, there have been ripples in the tech circles in the region wondering if there is a major shake up in the making. Ookbee CEO Moo Natavudh though brushed aside all concerns saying: “In terms of competition, Ookbee app aims to be a regional store, not only in Thailand. But locally there might be some competition with existing bookstore of ours. However, we think each bookstore has it own strengths anyway. For example, AIS has promotions for its users on its bookstore. B2S is known for its actual stores so it has a pool of loyal customers. Ookbee’s app tries to capture the remaining sector in general.”
What remains to be seen is whether Ookbee’s partners too are thinking along the same lines.
With a keen interest in tech, I make it a point to keep myself updated on the latest developments in technology and gadgets. That includes smartphones or tablet devices but stretches to even AI and self-driven automobiles, the latter being my latest fad. Besides writing, I like watching videos, reading, listening to music, or experimenting with different recipes. The motion picture is another aspect that interests me a lot, and I'll likely make a film sometime in the future.