A well known company is having a top secret event that has been the buzz of the internet and mainstream media for days as speculation has mounted on what will be announced. Sound familiar? Only this time it’s not Apple getting the CE world in a tizzy it’s Amazon.

With rumors circulating that the Kindle 2.0 is about to be unveiled next week it’s a good time to reflect on what changes would enhance the Kindle.

1. Focus on reading. The success of the netbook and digital audio players may entice Amazon to expand the functionality of the Kindle to include a PC-like interface and the ability to handle multimedia. This would be a mistake. Many companies already make netbooks and digital audio players for that matter, but very few make e-book readers with the extensive title library Amazon offers. The iPod was successful because its first few iterations focused exclusively on music not by focusing on adding video or games. Amazon should follow suit and continue to improve the experience as a book reader.

2. Add instant reviews. One of the great benefits of Amazon is user reviews. If the new Kindle also features a keypad, as the original did Amazon should consider allowing users to write reviews on the Kindle and share them to the Amazon website. Readers could even be prompted when they finish a book to write a review- a powerful call to action that Amazon loses with print editions. The device already has embedded connectivity so uploading would be easy and it would help grow the number of reviews Amazon offers its readers. Since reviews aren’t time sensitive Amazon could wait until the Kindle is synched with a PC to upload the reviews to avoid the costs of transmitting data over Sprint’s network.

3. Bundle electronic and paper versions. Some users still want the hard copy and Amazon should find a way to combine offers of a Kindle copy and a paper copy of a book. The company is already starting to do this. Just this weekend I was prompted after purchase to buy the online rights to the book Gotham so I could start reading immediately. If Amazon were to give a Kindle copy away (or for a small fee) to buyers of hard copies they could expand their user base substantially.

4. Consider Rentals. One notion posted to a blog post I made a few months ago was the suggestion of renting books, like a library (but for a fee). Amazon could consider such a service where a book can be “rented” for a fixed period of time for a reduced fee. In a time when the economy is suffering, offering a cheaper alternative to acquire titles could win over buyers who would otherwise not purchase a Kindle.

Naturally, there are many other features a revamped Kindle would be expected to offer; a smaller form factor, an improved screen, a lower price, etc. but the purpose of revamping the device is not to make it more appealing to those that already desire it instead it is to expand its audience.  The aforementioned ideas would help accomplish this by making reading more accessible and more affordable anytime and anywhere.