Google to launch its Google Editions e-reader service in US this year

LONDON - The launch of Google Editions, the search giant’s foray into the world of e-book retailing, is expected to take place in the United States by the end of the year, with international availability following in January, the company confirmed.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the online ebook store will allow users to download millions of books for free,” reports the Telegraph.

Those wishing to download ebooks for their ebook readers, computers or smartphones will pay 80 per cent of the print edition’s lowest price.

Google Editions is expected to offer a “read anywhere” business model, with ebooks available from Google itself as well as other online retailers, tied together by a single Google online account to create a virtual library. Users will be able to access their library on a variety of web-enabled devices through the browser.

Experts have said that Google’s approach could prove disruptive in the fledgling ebook market.

Google Editions would help to make ebooks platform-agnostic, and could provide a lifeline for struggling independent publishers and booksellers struggling to get a foothold in the digital age. (ANI)