Google Set to Launch E-Books Venture

Google Editions expected by end of year
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 1, 2010 4:18 AM CST
Google Editions Launch Expected Before End of Year
"Because of the complexity of this project, we didn't want to come out with something that wasn't thorough," a Google exec says.    (Getty Images)

Google's long-delayed venture into digital book sales has cleared the final few hurdles and execs say Google Editions will be up and running before the end of the year. The service, unlike competitors, won't be tied to an online bookstore or a particular device, and many expect it will upend the e-book market, the Wall Street Journal reports. Google hasn't revealed how many partners it has in the venture, although independent booksellers are expected to play a major role.

Google's "read anywhere" model will allow users to buy books from Google or online retailers and store them in a library linked to a Google account. Millions of titles will be available for free. "Google is going to turn every Internet space that talks about a book into a place where you can buy that book," said the owner of independent publisher Sourcebook . "The Google model is going to drive a lot of sales. We think they could get 20% of the e-book market very fast."
(More Google stories.)

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