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Google Kills Print Editions of Frommer's Guides: Report

Website Skift says no more will be published

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 21, 2013 4:10 PM CDT

(Newser) – Travelers hoping to pick up an updated Frommer's book before their next vacation appear to be out of luck: Travel site Skift reports that owner Google has killed the print versions of the trusty guides. Google bought Frommer's only five months ago from publisher John Wiley & Sons, and the last guides under the Frommer's name went on sale in February. Frommer's New York City With Kids was supposed to be next in the rotation, but it and all other titles won't come out, says Skift. Google has not not confirmed the report.

"Print guidebooks don't exactly gel with Google's web and mobile priorities, so this outcome isn't exactly surprising," writes Carl Franzen at the Verge. "But it is curious given that Google was offering discounts on print editions of another destination guide company it purchased, Zagat, as late as the end of last year."

This undated book cover image shows the cover of Frommer’s Hawaii Day by Day.
This undated book cover image shows the cover of Frommer’s Hawaii Day by Day.   (AP Photo/Wiley)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 10 comments
RAD45
Mar 27, 2013 12:50 PM CDT
I smell 'consolidation' with Google's purchase of Frommer's coming right after Zagat.  Google's busness model would be merging the two.. keeping their best points... and putting everything online via Smart Phones, Tablets and readers!  Dumping the costs of the publishing and expand their Cloud presence.  Trouble is, you can't usually WIFI the latest whilst flying or more than 10-feet from the dock at a cruise port... and carrying electronics in ..ahem.. some of the lesser countries and expecting them to work...NOT!  This doesn't sound terrific for traveler's.
rebane
Mar 21, 2013 5:22 PM CDT
Google's business model does not include print. Given that they are pushing paper into extinction. The future is not on paper
JoeQ
Mar 21, 2013 4:26 PM CDT
Google is being short-sighted.  It's both good and bad.  Travel information does get old pretty fast, but not everybody wants to travel with an internet-connected device.  You would have to be somewhere with WiFi too, not always possible.
 

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