Amazon is following the lead of Apple and others -- hopping on the mobile apps bandwagon and preparing to transform its Kindle e-book reader into a full-fledged handheld computing device. But the e-commerce giant is going to have its work cut out for it in laying the groundwork for a new environment that's attractive to content publishers, mobile developers and users, one analyst says. Enterprise Mobile Today takes a look.

Online bookselling giant Amazon has released a software development kit (SDK) for its Kindle e-reader, in a move to give the device a broader array of applications beyond e-books -- and potentially positioning it to go head-to-head with devices like the rumored Apple tablet.

The Kindle has been on the market since 2007, the same year Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) launched the iPhone. In that time, Apple has created the App Store for the iPhone and iPod Touch, which now features 100,000 apps and three billion downloads. But Amazon's (NASDAQ: AMZN) Kindle is only now getting started on the process.

For book publishers, the result could be new -- and more interactive and customizable -- ways to deliver their content.

It won't be for just books and magazines, however. Handmark is building an active Zagat guide featuring their ratings, reviews and more for restaurants in cities around the world, and Sonic Boom is building word games and puzzles.

Read the full story at Enterprise Mobile Today:
Amazon Wants Kindle Apps, Releases SDK