Google to launch eBook store

Posted on 5 May 2010 at 09:29

Google is looking to shake up the electronic book marketplace with the launch of its own eBook store, Google Editions.

As reported over on [a href="http://www.physorg.com/news192204489.html" target="_blank"]Physorg[/eurl], the search giant is hoping to capitalise on its expertise gained via the Google Books project and translate its experience with eBooks of public domain material into cash with a new electronic store.

Designed to be "device-agnostic" and usable on "any Internet-connected device" - including, inevitably, the increasingly popular Apple iPad - the Google Editions store will differ from the company's existing Books project by offering electronic versions of books still held under copyright following a profit-sharing agreement with the rights holders.

As well as online support designed for devices such as smartphones and slates, Google Editions is tipped to support offline device such as the Amazon Kindle and eReaders which are compatible with the open ePub standard - including, among others, the [=http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/mobile-phones/272755/sony-reader-pocket-edition]Sony Reader Pocket Edition[/a]range.

While the company hasn't given any hints as to expected pricing for books released via the service, it is more than likely to attempt to undercut existing eBook stores - something which Amazon and Apple are unlikely to take lying down. It's possible that Google's entry into this market - with a one-stop universal store for almost all devices, no less - could spark a pricing war and see the cost of eBooks plummet.

So far Google has yet to indicate precisely when the service will launch, beyond a vague "soon".

Author: Gareth Halfacree

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