I've been using an Amazon Kindle for the last week or so and I am totally sold on the product. Not only has it made reading far more accessible for me but it highlights how old world markets are being turned on their head by new technology. I'd not be surprised to see Amazon do for books what Apple's iTunes Store has done for music. However, I think that there's a missed opportunity.

People love to talk about the books they read. I'm currently rattling my way through Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series. Sure, they may not be the best written stories around but they are fairly engaging and as the father of a 12 year old daughter I like to read what she's reading. As I was walking around the office today, I saw someone else reading a book only to discover we were reading from the same series. That became a conversation that i'm sure will continue over the coming days.

Amazon is well placed to become the iPod and iTunes Store of books. With their always-connected mode it should be possible to let readers know when someone near them is reading the same book. Sharing comments, reviews and other story-related communications could be facilitated from within the reader creating a virtual book club.

Amazon already has an extensive database of reader reviews. Wouldn't it be great if the Kindle could put you in touch with a recent reviewer if they were online while you were reading so you could discuss the book?

Social networks work when they link people with common interests. Reading is perhaps the world's most popular past-time so it makes sense that a global social netwrok could form around the kindle and the way it brings readers together.