Google eBookstore is Open for Business
The old saying, “All is fair in love and war” seems to apply to sales of digital eBooks too. Yesterday, Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) released its new Google eBookstore, which is in direct competition with Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN). Until this point, Amazon has been the leading source for acquiring books in digital format for eBook readers.
Google started its eBookstore in a big way, with more than 3 million eBooks available for purchase. They also offer a large selection of free eBooks, the majority of which have expired copyrights.
Google has reading apps and files available to support nearly every reading device on the market. Google eBooks can be read in a web browser, on Android Smartphones, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhones, iPod touch and iPads, Sony Reader, and Barnes & Noble Nook.
Although Google does not support the Amazon Kindle, Google said it may support the Kindle in the future. The newer versions of the Amazon Kindle can decipher PDF files, but the font is so small it is impractical to try to read.
More than 85 different devices using the Adobe eBook platform, in either PDF or EPUB content, are able to read the Google format. Google chose to adopt Adobe Systems’ (NASDAQ:ADBE) Adobe Content Server 4 as its digital rights solution. This will allow users of Google eBooks to purchase, transfer and share digital books, something that can’t be done when purchasing eBooks from Amazon.
With the ability to share eBooks or transfer to another device, Google eBookstore may be a boon for companies selling eBook readers like Sony (NYSE:SNE) and Barnes & Noble (NYSE:BKS), with more eBook enthusiasts choosing to purchase a Sony Reader, or a Nook, rather than a Kindle.