TechSuave

How many of you physically read a newspaper or a magazine daily or atleast read in the recent past?

Whichever part of the world you live in, from this September you will be able to read your favorite mags online. Time Inc.’s Netflix like service for magazines at MagHound will provide you with all the best magazines in the world within your grasp at just a few clicks.

This announcement was made by Dave Ventresca, President of Maghound Enterprises Inc. on Tuesday. He said that right now 280 titles have boarded on to Maghound with 300 titles set to be ready at the time of launch and 100 more later by the end of the year.

Maghound.com allows consumers to choose titles from a variety of publishers for a mix-and-match “subscriptions” where they pay one monthly fee and have the ability to switch titles at any time. Unlike traditional subscriptions, members aren’t locked in their memberships and can cancel whenever they wish. Ventresca says that Maghound.com offers “flexibility, choice, control and personalization.”

Ventresca added that, most importantly, Magahound.com offers what traditional subs haven’t in the past: transparency. “As a member, you have a very clear indication of when you’re going to receive your subscription and when you’re going to be charged. Circulation has always been publisher-centric. With Maghound, it becomes consumer-centric.”

What is the Pricing Like?

The pricing for a membership is three-tiered with titles for $3.95 per month, five titles for $7.95, seven titles for $9.95, and $1 per title for eight titles or more. Titles that have a non-discounted traditional sub rate of around $19 or more per year are considered “premium” titles and will have an extra $2 fee per month (10-15 percent of titles fall in this category). First-time users will also be eligible for a free one month trial.

Members will receive their copies in the mail at roughly the same time as traditional subscriptions. Maghound will retain complete rights to member names in order to keep customers from getting saturated with direct mail and emails from multiple publishers at the same time.

Personally, I think its a great concept. Imagine sitting in some place with no access to newspapers and magazines, Maghound will surely come in handy. I would love to check it out when it is launched in September and will atleast take a one-month trial.
Will Maghound change the people’s attitude of physically reading magazines? Will you check this service out?