Looks like Microsoft is looking at getting into the e-book game. Microsoft and Barns & Noble have teamed up in a $300 million investment deal in hopes to accelerate “the transition to e-reading.” The partnership will create a new subsidiary with Microsoft owning 17.6%, while Barns & Noble takes the remaining 82.4%.
It looks like iBooks could have some more friendly competition soon…
Reported by Gizmodo, this investment deal will almost undoubtedly mean a Nook app for Windows 8. This will provide Windows 8 users with an alternative to the already popular e-book stores such as iBooks and Amazon.
Alongside their press release, Microsoft anounced that e-books are “revolutionizing the way people consume, create, share and enjoy digital content,” which is 100% true. And it’s not surprising this is happening since Microsoft seems to be the only one who’s not in the e-book market.
Microsoft’s President, Andy Lees announced that the partnership will “accelerate e-reading innovation.”
The shift to digital is putting the world’s libraries and newsstands in the palm of every person’s hand, and is the beginning of a journey that will impact how people read, interact with, and enjoy new forms of content.
Our complementary assets will accelerate e-reading innovation across a broad range of Windows devices, enabling people to not just read stories, but to be part of them. We’re at the cusp of a revolution in reading.
So if you’re a Windows user, it looks like you just got an invitation to the e-book party.
