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April 19 – 22, 2010 Edition Low-priced Kobo eReader Soon Available in U.S.
LAS VEGAS/AUTHORLINK NEWS/April 19,2010–For those who Want an e-Reader for less than $400, there’s a new solution. The Kobo eReader is now available for pre-order in Canada for $149 with a scheduled May release and should be available in the US later this summer, and early reviews of the device are favorable.
The Kobo eReader, compared to the Sony Pocket Reader, has a larger display and more internal memory for $50 less.
The Kobo eReader is supports EPUB and PDF formatted documents, including support for Adobe Digital Editions DRM (Digital Rights Management). That means you can download ebooks on the go to a smart phone and load them onto the Kobo eReader, or buy books through the Barnes & Noble, Sony, Fictionwise, eReader, and other online stores with EPUB and PDF files and then load them to read on the Kobo eReader.
Since Adobe Digital Editions is supported, users can connect the Kobo eReader to a PC or Mac for transferring book libraries. All those great free ebooks from Google and other online resources are supported in these formats.
The Kobo eReader actually comes preloaded with 100 free classics. The Kobo store, now owned by Borders, has a good selection of titles, including a free section. Kobo soon is expected to power the Borders ebook store.
The late March launch this year of the Kobo eReader application marks a first in this emerging market–standard software available for hardware partners worldwide. Kobo has developed a strong global following for its eReading applications for the iPhone, BlackBerry, Palm Pre, and Android-based smartphones, and full color, touchscreen tablets including the upcoming iPad.
We believe consumers want choice, and the freedom to read on any device. Building great eReading applications and partnering with leading device manufacturers is a recipe for success in this quickly growing market, said Michael Serbinis, CEO of Kobo. Our Powered by Kobo program accelerates the time to market for manufacturers of new devices and delivers more options for consumers. By providing a world-class catalog, complementary mobile applications and global infrastructure, partners can start selling eBooks in a matter of days.
The Powered by Kobo program provides a flexible solution for partners to launch an eReader or eBook store offering eBooks, newspapers and magazines to their customers. Partners have access to applications for smartphones, netbooks and laptops, new tablets, and now dedicated eReaders. They also have access to APIs, a software development kit, a mobile storefront, and custom integration options to differentiate their offering. Whether a partner is looking for software, content or everything in between, Powered by Kobo can meet their needs.
Kobos eReader application allows users to read eBooks in both standard ePUB and PDF formats, and supports eBooks, subscriptions (newspapers, magazines) and documents. Any Powered by Kobo eReader application is in sync with a users Kobo account and any Kobo-enabled device for continuous reading. The eReader application supports a range of hardware options with various screen types including eInk and LCD screens, as well as various connectivity options USB, Bluetooth, WIFI and 3G.
Kobo is a global eReading service backed by majority shareholder Indigo Books & Music, Borders Group, REDgroup Retail, and Cheung Kong Holdings. For more information, visit www.kobobooks.com.
