Sony, Three Other Companies to Launch E-book Distributor; Sony to Introduce Two E-reader Models in December 2010
November 26, 2010
Sony, KDDI, newspaper publisher Asahi Shimbun, and Toppan Printing jointly announced on November 24, 2010 that the four companies have established a joint venture, Booklista, to offer e-book distribution services, according to the Japan Today. It is reported that Booklista provides a platform for e-reader manufacturers and content providers to set up online bookstores by offering certification and billing systems, collecting and digitalizing content services, and etc.
In related news, Sony announced on November 25, 2010 that the company will resume its e-book business in Japan and launch two e-book models on December 10, 2010, according to the Japan Today. It is reported that one of the e-book model will have a five-inch black and white screen and is estimated to be sold for approximately 20,000 Yen (US$238.7; US$1=83.8 Yen); the other model, with a touch screen size of 6 inches, will be sold for 25,000 Yen (US$298.3). It is projected that both devices can store approximately 1,400 e-books. Sony aims to sell 300,000 units of its reader devices in the first year and take up 50% of the domestic market share by 2012.
Sony pulled out of the e-book market in 2007 partly due to lack of content, according to the same source. Along with the release of new e-book readers, Sony will open an online bookstore, Reader Store, on December 10, 2010 as well. It is projected that the Reader Store will offer approximately 20,000 titles.