By Dianna Dilworth on Galley Cat, June 5, 2012
Canadian eBook company Kobo unveiled a self-publishing platform today at BookExpo America. Kobo Writing Life will be available for writers by the end of June.
Check it out: “Unlike competitive self-publishing tools, Kobo allows authors to set their book price to ‘FREE’ at any time without restrictive exclusive agreements, in addition Kobo pays 10% higher royalties on sales in many growing international markets and allows authors much more freedom on pricing. The company’s focus on Social Reading will also give authors the opportunity to connect with readers through its Kobo Author Notes program enabling writers to provide commentary within the book for readers to enjoy as well as through Kobo’s free apps, integrated with Facebook Timeline.”
On Monday, the company reported that eBook downloads grew by 400 percent and eReader sales grew 160 percent. In addition, the number of people reading with Kobo internationally has grown by 280 percent year-over-year.
Michael Serbinis, CEO of Kobo, stated: “Strong eReader growth is projected by IDC for the European market; with sales increasing over 400% to 9.6-million devices expected in market by 2015. We expect Kobo’s trajectory for international growth and user adoption to quickly meet and exceed market projections.”
AppNewser has more: “the company also reported its new open reading platform, ‘Read Freely.’ The company’s website explains how it works: “The eBooks you buy with Kobo are yours. You’re free to read them on the most popular open devices. Or, you can buy books from other eBook retailers and read them with Kobo.”
Check it out: “Unlike competitive self-publishing tools, Kobo allows authors to set their book price to ‘FREE’ at any time without restrictive exclusive agreements, in addition Kobo pays 10% higher royalties on sales in many growing international markets and allows authors much more freedom on pricing. The company’s focus on Social Reading will also give authors the opportunity to connect with readers through its Kobo Author Notes program enabling writers to provide commentary within the book for readers to enjoy as well as through Kobo’s free apps, integrated with Facebook Timeline.”
On Monday, the company reported that eBook downloads grew by 400 percent and eReader sales grew 160 percent. In addition, the number of people reading with Kobo internationally has grown by 280 percent year-over-year.
Michael Serbinis, CEO of Kobo, stated: “Strong eReader growth is projected by IDC for the European market; with sales increasing over 400% to 9.6-million devices expected in market by 2015. We expect Kobo’s trajectory for international growth and user adoption to quickly meet and exceed market projections.”
AppNewser has more: “the company also reported its new open reading platform, ‘Read Freely.’ The company’s website explains how it works: “The eBooks you buy with Kobo are yours. You’re free to read them on the most popular open devices. Or, you can buy books from other eBook retailers and read them with Kobo.”
1 comment:
It's great to see Kobo expand and share some of the market.
I've self-published and e-published (had epub and mobi formats created for use internationally) by a New Zealand company and will continue to do so as long as I can to support our own industry.
Interestingly, my ebook on Kobo has far outsold over Kindle - that's probably because it's easier to get in front of readers by placing the book in the CheapReads section, and then I'm only a couple of browse clicks away from the home page.
The increasing offerings for print, eprint and distribution overseas helps us to expand internationallly while retaining our independence as self-published authors. The challenge in all this of course is quality of books entering the market - but hey, author's of all people should appreciate the need for a wide variety of people, knowledge and skill to bring these 'babies' to fruition - to go independent, in my view, assumes you know this and will seek quality out from the fog of confusion that can hit us first time writers.
Blogs like this make a huge difference in raising awareness. Great offering Beattie, only just found you (after googling Kobo news) and will be taking a look around!
Louise
I met my Soul in a Coffee Shop
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