South Africans now have access to hundreds of thousands of books on Google’s Play store including bestsellers and classics from hundreds of publishers.
Santiago de la Mora, regional director of print product partnerships at Google, says that with the launch of e-books, Google Play will become like a bookstore in consumers’ pockets.
Users can read on the Web using any device they like, or using Android apps on their phone or tablet. As books are available in the cloud, readers can begin a book on one device and seamlessly carry on reading on another.
They are also able to annotate, highlight, translate, search and create bookmarks.
De la Mora says that books were available on the Google Play store in six countries initially. “With the South African launch, it will be available in 39 countries.”
The cost of books will generally be below their print equivalents. “Holistically, the app had to be compelling across the board, and pricing is a key attribute,” says De la Mora.
He adds that there are two types of customers – those that buy print books and also buy e-books, and “digital natives” who use apps, the Web, and Google Play.
Self publishers won’t be able to upload their books to Google Play yet, but De la Mora says that it’s the company’s intention to “make it happen”. — (c) 2013 NewsCentral Media