REDgroup to revolutionise eContent with global digital books deal
WEDNESDAY, 16th December 2009: REDgroup Retail (“Redgroup”) today announced it had signed an agreement with Kobo Inc, a new global eReading service that has spun off of Canada’s leading book retailer, Indigo Books & Music Inc (“Indigo”).
Kobo will allow customers to purchase and download eBooks and eContent directly from REDgroup’s transactional websites – Angus & Robertson and Borders in Australia and Whitcoulls in New Zealand. REDgroup expects to launch Kobo via its online platform by May 2010.
Kobo is the reinvention of Indigo’s existing eBooks service currently known as ‘Shortcovers’ in the marketplace. Since launching in February, Shortcovers has provided eBooks to customers from over 200 countries and fulfilled over one million eReading app downloads. Kobo aims to reach out to an even broader demographic of customers by localising the Kobo offer through partnerships with leading regional booksellers like REDgroup.
REDgroup will invest in Kobo alongside Indigo, Borders Group Inc and Instant Fame (a subsidiary of Cheung Kong Holdings Ltd).
Customers who download eContent via the Angus & Robertson, Borders or Whitcoulls websites will be able to read this on popular smartphones such as the iPhone, BlackBerry, Palm Pre and Android. REDgroup expects to launch Kobo with over 1,000,000 available eContent downloads including books, magazines and newspapers.
This initiative by REDgroup Retail follows the successful launch of its new online sales platform, which powers the Angus & Robertson, Borders and Whitcoulls websites. This platform has enabled REDgroup Retail to become the leading local internet book retailer in Australia and New Zealand in just under six months.
REDgroup Retail Group Managing Director David Fenlon said the agreement with Kobo would position REDgroup at the forefront of the growing eBook market.
“I’m thrilled that we’ll soon be able to offer our customers a broad selection of eBooks and other content for download via our websites,” said Mr Fenlon. “In particular, I’m pleased that we’ll be in a position to make local content available by working with Australian and New Zealand publishers and authors to enhance the Kobo range.
“Our ability to supplement the growing catalogue of eBooks and make these products relevant to and available to our local customers at an affordable price is really exciting. Furthermore, Kobo’s content will be accessible from eReaders, iPhones, Blackberrys, Palm Pres, Androids and PCs, making the products very versatile.
“This is a great opportunity for REDgroup to partner with global leaders in digital content to enhance our customer offer.”
For further information call:
Lauren Thompson
+61 438 954 729