[excerpt]
http://www.cbc.ca/arts/books/story/2009/10/15/google-ebook-frankfurt.html
Google Inc. is launching an online service that will let readers buy
electronic versions of books and read them on such gadgets as cellphones,
laptops and possibly e-book devices.
Google Editions marks the company's first effort to earn revenue from its
ambitious Google Books scanning project, which attempts to make millions
of printed books available online. Although the scanning program has faced
complaints from authors and publishers over copyright, Google Editions
will cover only books submitted and approved by the copyright holders when
it launches next year.
The books bought through Google Editions will be accessible on any device
that has a web browser, including smart phones, netbooks and personal
computers and laptops, putting Google in competition with Amazon.com Inc.
and its Kindle e-book reader.
Tom Turvey, head of Google Book Search's publisher partnership program,
said Thursday the e-book market is evolving to allow access of books from
anywhere and from any device.
Consumers can buy directly from Google or from any number of online
booksellers and other retail partners using the Google Editions platform.
Google will actually host the e-books and make them searchable.
