Google have announced that they intend to join the growing E-Book market, not with a dedicated device but by delivering content to anyone who can view it through a normal web browser. Launching next year they confirmed that they will go head to head with the likes of Amazon’s Kindle and Sony’s Sony Reader by offering digital literature content.
Google Editions will offer digital books that are able to be read by any browser. This is vastly different from other current products which often rely on products with the same compatibility to be able to work. Offering half a million books initially, Google Editions said that the first works will be from publishers they already work with and whose digital rights they already own. In addition customers will be able to purchase books through both Google and online stores including Amazon.com
Speaking on speculation that Google are to also launch their own e-book reader, director for strategic partnerships Tom Turvey said “We’re not focused on a dedicated e-reader or device of any kind.”
It looks to be a good step for Google as Forrester released forecasts that up to three million e-book readers will be purchased in the States alone this year. Increased by more content and lower prices, this is up from the previously predicted one million devices. The scheme will mark the first possible profit for Google in the book market, with 37per cent of profit from e-book sales staying with the company whilst the remainder goes to associated publishers.
