Borders says that 2 million titles will be available through its new ebook store. They also released a new e-reader, the Kobo, undercutting the Kindle in price. As anyone who has a Kindle knows, the number of Australian titles (and you can add to this new release UK fiction) are few and far between. With the huge number of titles Borders is offering for purchase though its website in the epub format this will hopefully mean a greater range of new release Australian books available.
The Red Group (which owns Borders and Angus and Robertson) says that more than 100 local publishers, including Allen and Unwin, Pan Macmillan, and HarperCollins, have signed up. The Australian Bookseller and Publisher website reports that Scribe’s initial batch of ebooks will be available on the Borders site within the week and Text says titles by Kate Grenville, Helen Garner and Shane Maloney will also be available soon. Spinifex Press and MUP are said to have signed and Simon & Schuster would make selected Australian titles available.