The massive ebook store which will initially have about 400,000 to 600,000 titles available has been in the offing since last year but because of some delays, reportedly among them the failure of Google to offer an acceptable deal to publishers, the launch date had to be pushed back to summer of this year, possibly in late June or July.

Google manager for strategic development Chris Palma revealed that ebook reading enthusiasts will be able to purchase any title they find from Google’s own Book Search function. Book retailers on the other hand, will also have the chance to sell the ebooks through their respective websites, in turn, making Google books more accessible to users.

While Google is new to the distribution business, it hopes to get a share of the market by emphasizing the fact that books at Google Editions can be read from just about any device – from the Kindle to the iPad, Nook, or any other ebook reader or web browser for that matter.

Although the company is still mum on the pricing structure of the digital books available on Google Editions, its very entry into the market should make things interesting as far as ebook prices are concerned. Amazon had earlier been bent on sticking to a $9.99 pricetag on its books for the Kindle, but was forced to raise prices on some titles when a number of publishing companies drew up their own pricing scheme for their ebooks.

Will Google Editions be able to get a crack at this industry currently dominated by Amazon and Apple and their respective devices Kindle and iPad? One thing’s for sure, if ebooks will be made available to consumers at lower prices, then definitely the Google ebook store is a welcome addition to the ebook market.

Amazon, the Benjamin Franklin International School in Barcelona, Rassak Experience, and OrphanAid Africa are current partners of Worldreader.org. Kindle is the sole ebook reader choice because it is simple to use, has the biggest selection of ebooks through Amazon, and offers global wireless support. The organization however says that as the needs of the program evolves, other devices will be used in addition to the Kindle.

Here is Worldreader.org’s working hypotheses:

1. Ereaders will increase access to books due to lower distribution costs and immediate visibility of millions of books available online.

2. Widespread ebook reader use will also lead to the production of a larger number and greater variety of books to read, and increased excitement and exchange of ideas around these books.

3. As a result, a higher value will be placed on reading within the classroom, family, and community.

4. The results will be specific and measurable, and will, in the long term, increase literacy and opportunity for those involved.

Take note though, that Worldreader.org doesn’t give the ereader away. What the organization does is work to help subsidize the devices through fundraising. Then, the local government pays for the devices at a more affordable price. In the village of Ayenyah, Ghana, a “trial run” started last March 15. Also, Worldreader.org foresees that it will create a “sustainable business ecosystem” in developing communities.

Worldreader.org allows the community to decide what books will be pre-loaded on to the reader. It is based on their needs and interests. Additionally, they are partnering with other organizations to help fund solar cell and satellite internet access as some remote areas don’t have reliable power. This is true of Ayenyah, Ghana. The trial school has inconsistent power, and Worldreader.org is also using this trial run to find a solution to the electricity problem.

This is another positive outcome of ereader technology. We get so caught up in the ebook prices, the new agency model, the competition between the Kindle and the iPad, it’s easy to forget that this technology is not just for entertainment. It is a powerful tool that could potentially change the way the world reads.

The New York Times Book Review has a solid reputation. It has been published since October 10, 1896, and readers have trusted it to get information on current fiction and non-fiction books. This app will truly cater to the book lover who is interested in getting the view of the New York Times.

The New York Times Book Review receives 750 to 1000 books every week from authors and publishers. Only 20 to 30 are picked for review. The staff chooses these books based on importance and notability. They also choose new books from up-and-coming authors who display uniqueness in topic and writing.

When choosing a book, not only do consumers look for titles that interest them because of the topic or author, they may also ask themselves:

Is this worth reading?

How is this book selling?

The straightforward opinion of the New York Times Book Review panel answers these questions, assisting book lovers in choosing the next great read.

Not only was this a smart move to help the consumer, but for the company itself, as the New York Times Book Review app doesn’t have a lot of competition. Sure, ereader owners have access to blogs and other articles which also provide book reviews, but because of the New York Times’ print reputation, it will most likely have a solid following as well in the ereader realm. Although a price hasn’t been released yet, hopefully the app is priced affordably for those who want a recommendation on their next Kindle or Nook read.

What is a Geographic Restriction?

It simply means that an ebook store can’t legally sell certain books to consumers who live in certain countries. This varies, but is all dependent on they way the ebook contract was written. When you are looking at an ebook online, a list of countries that are allowed or not allowed should appear on the web page.

Why Would Publishers Limit Who Can Purchase Ebooks?

With the paper book business, rights of particular books have been sold to different publishers by geographic region. It might be outdated when it comes to ebooks, but these contracts and rules are still in place. If the publisher chooses to go against these restrictions, they are of course, subject to legal action. In addition, sellers must adhere to these restrictions, or risk ebook withdrawals from their virtual book store.

Should We Complain to the Publisher?

We could, but it isn’t going to help. The problem is that the ebook rights are not held by a single publisher. The rights may be held by different publishers in different countries. The publisher that gives the right to the ebook store only has the right to grant permission for the country or countries specified in the contract.

The Other Side

This is no doubt a true frustration for consumers in Europe and Australia. These restrictions usually don’t apply to Americans. This topic is usually a rant by consumers that can’t purchase the ebook that the want, but here is the other side of the story.

One of the reasons why these restrictions are present is to preserve the country’s local economy within the publishing industry and reflect the differences within each market. The profits from country-specific international editions assist in keeping a structure that is needed for local book publishing. Local pricing and profit are vital to a local economy and its culture.

Large players like American publishers can oversaturate smaller countries, and take away from their local economies. Additionally, added taxes can strain these countries as well.

None of us like restrictions; especially, when it affects our obsession with reading, but unfortunately, these restrictions are still applicable. Hopefully, the publishing world can come up with a new solution that is more modern to address this setback in the ebook reader realm.

If you are still one of those who are turning away from this technology, it is time to look at the benefits of an ebook.

Space Saving

You don’t have to throw out your favorite books, but think of all the shelf space you will save because your new books exist on a hard drive. Imagine, you will have access to your entire library in your purse, back pack or brief case.

Easy Access

Going on vacation soon? Isn’t it annoying when you finish the beach read early, and you are left with the gift shop book selection? With an ereader, you can instantly browse for that next great read. If you are a business person that travels a lot, not only can you carry your library, but also access the newspaper and magazines while avoiding the hassles of lugging them around.

Save Money & Time

You don’t have to pay shipping costs with ebooks, nor do you have to drive to the book store for a new book.

Good for the Environment

More trees are living due to ebook technology. Although the plastic and energy used for an ereader contributes negatively to the environment, manufacturers are constantly upgrading readers to contend, and it doesn’t compare to the carbon footprint made by paper books.

And when it’s Ebook week, you get more than the usual benefits from ebook reading , because you can jump in on free downloads, or even win an ereader. Here are some of the coolest freebies that were given away during the “Read an Ebook Week” celebration:

Smashwords

Smashwords offered free ebook downloads all week, and created a special “Read an Ebook Week” library on the Stanza and Aldiko app.

CurrClick.com

CurrClick.com gave away a free ebook everyday this week; plus, participants in the site’s Twitter Contest were given a chance to win a Nook.

“Read an Ebook Week” is a virtual embrace of the ereader technology, and it is definitely a fresh and positive view on the benefits of ebooks. This is especially true during the time of agency model battles that have dimmed the enthusiastic outlook on the technology.

Don’t own an ereader yet? Check out our Kindle DX review and find out why the ebook reader technology is worth getting into.

About 35% to 40% of the British Library’s 19th Century collections are either completely unique or inaccessible through other top libraries in the UK and abroad. The 65,000 editions include philosophy, history, poetry and literature which equal 25 million pages of text.

The titles do include known authors such as Dickens, Austen and Conan Doyle, but Kindle readers will also be able to download lesser known titles like “A Strange Story” by Edward Lytton. Lytton was one of the most popular novelists of the Victorian era, but was lost in time. Well, not any more. Another buried author, Ella Hepworth Dixon wrote “The Story of a Modern Woman”, and it is described “as the greatest unread novel of female struggle”.

Kindle users will also have access to works known as Penny Dreadfuls. Named Penny Dreadfuls because they were cheap, with dramatic plots and marketed to the working class, they were produced at the time on inexpensive pulp paper which is not very durable. Because of this, most titles are very rare. Due to the partnership with the British Library and Amazon, the world will now have access to these “dreadfuls”.

As for those who don’t own an ebook reading device, never fear. CreateSpace, which is owned by Amazon, will offer print-on-demand services, so consumers can have their own copies of these unique parts of history. They will have access to first editions at very affordable prices, but again for Kindle owners, the digital versions will be FREE.

This is definitely history-making, and a positive outcome of technology. Not only is it unlocking classic reading material that was only available to a select few, but it also is giving future generations the option to really discover the Victorian Era. It is also noted that public sector institutions such as The British Library is finding ways to survive in these hard economic times. A partnership with Amazon and its popular Kindle DX to bring these buried manuscripts back to life is just the sort of thing the world needs right now.

McGraw-Hill Professional is a top-notch publisher of finance, business, management, and other professional books that are written by well-known business leaders with extensive experience. This idea was conjured up to help the consumer get specific solutions for their business needs. The collection contains over 750 chapters from McGraw Hill Professional’s selections including reliable resources on business, investing, marketing, and Six Sigma.

Claiming that the “Select: eChapters in an Instant” collection is pinpointed for the business professional, McGraw-Hill representatives say that the consumer will have an easier time searching for information because they will only be purchasing the desired chapter. For those who want a more comprehensive reference, the full ebooks and hard-copies are still available for purchase.

The chapters will be available to the consumer through devices like the Amazon Kindle, Nook and iPhone. They can be downloaded at www.mhprofessional.com/echapters. The chapters range from $6.95 to $9.95 in price. What? That is expensive! Considering that most of the business ebooks offered by McGraw Hill Professional costs about thirty bucks in their entirety, it is evident that the publisher found a niche market that will pay by chapter.

What if the business professional decides eventually that they want more chapters? This has the potential to be an expensive habit, and obviously money would be saved in the long run if the whole book was purchased at a single time. Another point — isn’t it that one of the perks of an ereader device is its ability to search for specific text?

The consumer may buy into this recent money-making ploy, and to some extent, this makes sense when it comes to business and reference books, but hopefully we don’t see the classics or other ebooks sold by chapter. There really wouldn’t be a benefit to reading the first chapter of “A Clockwork Orange” or Act 5 of “Merchant of Venice” and then calling it a day.

For business professionals, this may be a great option, but is this a future trend for publishers to make more money off the ebook market? The niche is already headed that way with the new ebook agency model, and it looks as though it could become an expensive habit. Hopefully we don’t see this affect other book markets as it probably wasn’t the author’s vision to have their book chapters sold in an “each sold separately” manner.

Keeping up with the consumers’ demand for quick information, a company is going to offer shortened versions of ebooks for Kindle and other digital readers. These versions will range from 1,000 to 5,000 words. For the older folks among us, these can be equated with the ever popular Cliff Notes. Remember frantically running into the book store to pick up the yellow and black booklet of Hamlet? You were saved, and you didn’t even have to read the play! Well you don’t have to run any longer; the condensed digital version is on its way.

Currently, The FT Press, a division of Pearson only offers shortened versions of business books that are marketed to on-the-go professionals. Known as FT Press Delivers in the Kindle ebook store and Barnes & Noble ebook shop, they sell “Elements” and “Shorts”.

“Elements” contain simply the facts at around 1,000-2,000 words, and the “Shorts” are freshly written essays around 5,000 words. Amazon offers FT Press ebooks at discounted prices, yet Barnes & Noble has kept the publisher’s prices. There are over 240 titles available with the hopes of bringing this number up to 500 by the end of the year.

An example of an Element from FT Press Delivers is “Don’t Make Them Think!: Creating the Best Flow for the Elements of Any Great Presentation” by Jerry Weissman. Costing only $1.59 for the Kindle users, the condensed book only contains 130 locations and gives the reader the bare bones in bullet points.

Granted this may be a fantastic buy for a professional who is trying to structure a presentation, but reading a novel in bullet points may not be satisfying. Perhaps a bit dramatic, but this is what the reading world is coming to.

Ereader technology is ground-breaking, and with the ever-changing gadget, it will continue to satisfy hungry readers who simply don’t want to wait for the next trip to the book store. Condensing novels may take the joy out reading, and with our fast-paced lives, shouldn’t we leave one thing alone? No matter how the written word is read, perhaps it should be left in its full hearty emotional state with the perfect companion — the ebook reader like the Amazon Kindle.

Enter the biggest retailer of books – Walmart. Walmart has this great policy (for consumers) that they will match their competitor’s lowest prices. Walmart doesn’t want to sell brand new hardbacks at $9.99, so they sometimes choose NOT to stock certain books. Imagine what this does to the author. It hurts their profit.

So, what’s the point of the Walmart story? Macmillan threatened that they would delay ebook releases for several months because of the lower price. But some authors have already placed clauses in their contracts that would delay the release of digital copies because of Walmart’s aggressive pricing.

In addition, electronics giant Apple significantly contributed to this whole scenario by adopting the agency model and signing up with the country’s top publishers: HarperCollins, Hachette Book Group, Macmillan, Simon & Schuster, and Penguin. Here’s how the agency model for ebooks started it all:

Before the Ebook Agency Model

The publisher offered the ebooks at 50% of the hardcover price, and then allowed the retailer to sell them for whatever price they liked.

So let’s say a book has a list price of $30. Macmillan sells it to Amazon for $15.00, and in turn, Amazon sells it for $9.99, taking a $5 loss.

Critics of Amazon have said that putting a $9.99 price tag on the ebooks, devalues the author’s work. Consumers, however, have gotten used to paying this price which is one of the reasons why they are now stomping their feet.

So how does the agency model compare to the original arrangement?

Ebook Agency Model

The publisher sets the price for the ebook, takes 70% of the sale, and leaves 30% to the retailer.

Using the same example above: Macmillan sells the ebook for $15, and then takes 70%, or $10.50. They actually make less than they were making before. Amazon then gets $4.50. This is actually more than what they were making before but it also forces Amazon to sell the book for $5 more than they normally would ($15 vs. $9.99). The consumers don’t want that and neither does Amazon.

Some wonder why Amazon would want to take a $5 loss on every ebook sold under the old arrangement. My guess is Amazon wants to dominate the market and basically crush the competition by making it impossible for them to compete over the long-term. Only a company the size of Amazon can sustain a money-losing model like that for the long-term. Regardless of the motivates, it is a great deal for consumers and not such a great deal for authors.

David Young, CEO for Hachette Book Group USA announced recently that they will be shifting to an agency model for e-book pricing. This decision follows closely the Macmillan price dispute with Amazon which in turn, has definitely given Macmillan a powerful ally.

Young’s announcement included this quote, “it allows Hachette to make pricing decisions that are rational and reflect the value of our author’s work. In the long run this will enable Hachette to continue to invest in and nurture author’s careers—from major blockbusters to new voices”.

In addition to following the agency model, Hachette intends to release e-books simultaneously with the hardcover or the first format print edition. This is the letter that was sent to agents on February 4th:

February 4, 2010

Dear Agent,

At Hachette Book Group, we have been considering a new pricing model for some time, and have decided to transition to selling our e-books through an agency model.

There are many advantages to the agency model, for our authors, retailers, consumers, and publishers. It allows Hachette to make pricing decisions that are rational and reflect the value of our authors’ works. In the long run this will enable Hachette to continue to invest in and nurture authors’ careers–from major blockbusters to new voices. Without this investment in our authors, the diversity of books available to consumers will contract, as will the diversity of retailers, and our literary culture will suffer.

The agency relationship will allow us to make more titles available to more consumers on more platforms. This expands the author’s reach and readership, which is at the heart of what we do as a publisher. Ultimately, these new terms open doors to all online e-book service providers and create more avenues for delivering e-books to readers.

Another great benefit to our consumers is that we intend to release HBG e-books simultaneously with the hardcover (or first format print edition).

It’s important to note that we are not looking to the agency model as a way to make more money on e-books. In fact, we make less on each e-book sale under the new model; the author will continue to be fairly compensated and our e-book agents will make money on every digital sale. We’re willing to accept lower return for e-book sales as we control the value of our product–books, and content in general. We’re taking the long view on e-book pricing, and this new model helps protect the long term viability of the book marketplace.

We believe that this new model is preferable to withholding books, and is in our authors’ and HBG’s best interest. I’m happy to answer individual questions about the agency model, so please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Best,

David Young
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Hachette Book Group

The agency model will entail retailers acting as the publisher’s agent, and the retailer will get 30% commission. This is the standard split for many digital media businesses. The price for digital books will range from $5.99 to $14.99.

In dispute to Macmillan’s decision to follow the agency model, Amazon released a statement on the Kindle Community board that outlined why they temporarily ceased sale of Macmillan e-books. In addition, the statement included that they “don’t believe that all of the major publishers will take the same route as Macmillan.”

Unfortunately, it looks as though the big publishers are going to follow suit, and with such differences between Amazon and some of the top publishers in the country, could the popularity of the Amazon Kindle also suffer from the fallout?