Google joins the e-book store party

Google has opened a new digital e-book store with more than 3 million e-books that can be used across different platforms. Google decided to open up its e-book technology so it can be used on the popular Apple iPad, Barnes & Noble Nook, and all devices with Internet and a Web browser.

The store was originally expected to open over the summer, but was a few months late as Google finalized the store.

ADVERTISEMENT

Google will also have iPad/iPhone and Google Android-based apps available for mobile users looking to purchase and read e-books. As expected, the Google e-books won't work with the rival Amazon Kindle e-reader, and that won't change any time soon.

Google wisely worked with 4,000 content publishers to ensure a large selection of current and classic books available.

ADVERTISEMENT

Amazon and its Kindle e-reader continue to dominate the market, but the iPad and other products are now pressuring Amazon. The iPad is expected to lead the e-reader market through 2010. Meanwhile, this Google e-book store joins B&N, Borders Bookstore, and several upstart stores that want to cut into Amazon's predicted $250 million in 2010 e-book sales.

Amazon currently controls almost 72% of the e-book market, but that number may shrink to 35% over the next five years.

As manufacturers and retailers prepare for Christmas, e-readers (and digitally downloaded e-books) are expected to be popular sellers. In the US market alone, e-books are expected to generate upwards of $1 billion revenue this year -- and that number is expected to rise to $1.7 billion over the next year.

ADVERTISEMENT

The mystery surrounding e-book pricing remains a concern, but consumer interest has outweighed pricing concerns.

No posts to display