Independent Online Booksellers Respond and Add Microsoft Reader eBooks to their Retail Storefronts

 

CLEVELAND – August 5, 2002 – In response to increased consumer demand, leading online retailers, eBooks.com and Fictionwise.com have expanded their inventory to include thousands of titles in the popular Microsoft Reader format. Mobile users can browse and purchase best-selling titles from leading publishers such as McGraw-Hill, Random House, Harper Collins and many others. After purchasing, customers can download and read their eBooks on desktop PCs, laptops and Pocket PC 2002 devices with Microsoft Reader 2.0 installed. Both companies are part of OverDrive Content Reserve — a worldwide marketplace of eBook retailers who can choose from thousands of premium eBook titles for secure online distribution through their stores.

Clifford Guren, Group Product Manager, eReading, Microsoft said, “We’re delighted that two pioneers of eBook retailing are now selling Microsoft Reader titles, enabling their customers to experience the ease and clarity of reading eBooks with ClearType. Their support adds significantly to the growing momentum of the eBooks industry.”

eBooks.com has been selling electronic books exclusively in Adobe Acrobat PDF format for over two years.  “We decided to add Microsoft Reader titles to our inventory because it is the format of choice for our mobile and connected customers,” said Suzanne Cole, Manager, Acquisitions & Publisher Relations at eBooks.com.  “The small file sizes are perfect for fast downloading onto a Pocket PC.  We are delighted with the enthusiastic reception for our current inventory of Microsoft Reader titles that we’ve received from our customers,” she added.

“Fictionwise is excited to be working with OverDrive. By participating in Content Reserve, we can offer and deliver thousands of quality titles in Microsoft Reader format through our eBookstore,” said Scott Pendergrast, co-owner of Fictionwise.com.  “We have over 50,000 members growing at a rate of 2,000 to 3,000 per month.  As a result we’re seeing steady double digit growth in sales and OverDrive is helping Fictionwise keep up with demand,” he said.

 

About eBooks.com

eBooks.com was founded in January 1997 by Stephen Cole, a lifetime bibliophile. The commercial launch of the site was successfully completed in September 2000.  eBooks.com is an Australian company with a global focus. We are building an exciting range of business books from specialist and general publishers. At the same time, we are developing our inventory in other key topic areas including travel, general reference, computing and popular fiction.  eBooks.com aims to be the pre-eminent eBookstore on the Internet, selling whole books, chapters and pages of books online from the world’s leading publishers. eBooks can be purchased and downloaded immediately by customers anywhere in the world at prices that are cheaper than printed books, with no postal charges and no waiting for delivery.

About Fictionwise

Fictionwise.com is a leading independent eBook publisher and distributor. The company publishes award-winning and high-quality fiction eBooks by top authors in multiple formats, including Palm (for Palm, Visor and Win CE), Adobe Acrobat, Rocket/REB1100, Microsoft Reader (Pocket PC and PCs), and Franklin eBookMan. Fictionwise authors include Isaac Asimov, Larry Niven, Harlan Ellison, Robert Silverberg, Nancy Kress, Damon Knight, Gregory Benford, Mike Resnick, James Patrick Kelly, Lois Bujold and Kate Wilhelm, amongst many others. Fictionwise also distributes eBooks by other high-quality publishers. It is believed that Fictionwise.com has the largest eBook collection of major award-winning and nominated science fiction stories on the Internet. For further information, contact Scott Pendergrast at scott@fictionwise.com.

About OverDrive

OverDrive, Inc. (www.overdrive.com) is a leading provider of eBook, DRM and media marketplace technologies enabling the secure management and distribution of digital media over global networks. As a strategic partner with Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq: MSFT), Adobe Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADBE) and Palm Digital Media (Nasdaq: PALM).  Through Content Reserve (www.contentreserve.com)OverDrive delivers proven technology for trusted fulfillment and resale of premium content from the world’s leading media companies. As a Principal Member of the Open eBook Forum (OeBF), OverDrive is strategically focused on driving specifications and standards for the emerging and rapidly evolving electronic publishing industry. The company was founded in 1986, and is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio.

Press Contacts

Jennifer A. Jackson, OverDrive, Inc., (216) 573-6886, ext. 207, jjackson@overdrive.com

Suzanne Cole, eBooks.com, suzanne.cole@ebooks.com

Scott Pendergrast, Fictionwise.com, scott@fictionwise.com

 

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