B&N Bookstore and eReader apps top 1 million downloads
By Paul Biba
E-books are just a tiny part of the market—estimates are typically well below five percent—but this press release from B&N is good news for the future. May the big publishers pay attention! And also back off from DRM and other e-book killjoys!
Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the world’s largest bookseller, announced today that downloads for both the B&N Bookstore app and the B&N eReader app for the iPhone and iPod touch have hit the one million mark. The company also said that its free B&N eReader app is one of the most popular apps in the iTunes Books category, having held the number one position throughout the summer. …
“Achieving these milestones so quickly after launch is a great affirmation of our strategy to provide our customers with more choices in how, when and where they can interact with America’s #1 bookstore,” said William J. Lynch, president of Barnes & Noble.com. “The access and convenience we’re providing through these apps, combined with our complimentary Wi-Fi, have enhanced our rich in-store experience, extended that experience for on-the-go mobile consumers, and helped us deliver on our promise to give readers access to the books they love — on any platform, in any place and at any time."
Thanks to Nathaniel Hoffelder for the link.
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September 21st, 2009 at 3:29 pm
It is also bad news — because if B&N starts selling a lot of ebooks laden with its eReader DRM, it will believe itself to be justified in maintaining the eReader DRM. I have no answer to this problem but there are two sides — good and bad — to this news.
September 21st, 2009 at 3:32 pm
I’d love to see how B&N really feels about DRM. Is it a requirement for e-books to be carried on the site?
Anyone have answers off-hand?
Thanks,
David
September 21st, 2009 at 11:49 pm
I’m supporting eBooks, but only the ones without DRM. I’d rather not have ebooks than see DRM successful.