Reports: Google to launch online bookstore

Updated 10:00am PST to revise Google percentage through online bookstores.

Watch out Amazon. Google is hitting the online bookstore business.

The search giant announced Thursday at the Frankfurt Book Fair that in the first half of next year it will launch Google Editions, a new service that will deliver e-books to anyone with a Web browser.

Partnering with publishers which whom it already has digital rights deals, Google plans to initially offer about a half-million books through the service, according to press reports from Frankfurt. Readers will be able to purchase the books directly from Google or from online bookstores such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

In September, in conjunction with Congressional hearings into its Google Books project, the search titan had revealed a reseller program that would give competitors a share of money from such a service.

Google plans to share the sales with both publishers and the online bookstores. For books sold directly from its Web site, the search giant said at the book fair that it would give publishers 63 percent of the sales and keep 37 percent itself. For books sold through Amazon or other retailers, the publisher would get 45 percent, while the retailer would get almost 55 percent with a small share for Google.

The company said that consumers would be able to read the books on any connected device, including PCs, Netbooks, and smartphones. Apple iPhone users could access the e-books through their Gmail accounts.

Google said it doesn't plan to offer a dedicated e-book reader to accompany the new service, according to the press reports.

"We're not focused on a dedicated e-reader or device of any kind," Tom Turvey, Google's director of strategic partnerships, told journalists at the Frankfurt Book Fair.

Google was not immediately available for comment to CNET News.

[sailinganfd]

Could be great...
Calling google bashers in 3, 2, 1.

[theconveyancer]

Online bookstore is a great idea. Book lovers like me will love this innovation.

[ryokowerx]

Agreed. Still kind of weird that I'll have to access it through my Gmail since I use a iPhone but I can deal. This could be very good.

[rich966]

read "Gmail accounts" as "Google accounts"

[DragonStab]

"the publisher would get 45 percent, the retailer would get 55 percent, and Google would keep the small remaining percentage."

Let's see...... then Google gets a whopping 0%, right?

[Renegade Knight]

Behold the power of rounding.

[j1shalack]

The retailer would get ALMOST 55 percent..

[DragonStab]

Also...

"Partnering with publishers which whom it already has digital rights deals"
or
"Partnering with publishers with whom it already has digital rights deals"

"Which" one is correct? You decide......

Geez, this guy gets paid to write? And he's a contributing EDITOR for MS TechNet Mag, among other things. Looks like he should have an editor proofread his stuff.

[DragonStab]

And he STILL doesn't bother to fix it.......

[BossMS]

Am I the only one having trouble with the numbers when Google sells through an online bookseller? The story says the publisher gets 45%, the retailer gets 55% and Google keeps "the small remaining percentage." What's left? 45 + 55 = 100 means that there's either a mistake in the story or in Google's numbers.

[Renegade Knight]

Think Rounding. 44.6% and 54.6% leaves 0.8% for google but rounds as you have seen. No doubt my numbers are wrong but you can see the point.

[BossMS]

Am I the only one having trouble with the numbers when Google sells through an online bookseller? The story says the publisher gets 45%, the retailer gets 55% and Google keeps "the small remaining percentage." What's left? 45 + 55 = 100 means that there's either a mistake in the story or in Google's numbers.

[AppleSuxLeo]

The Barnes and Noble E book reader is based upon Android.
Another win for Google.
And the number of Android phones being released soon is astounding...esp. the ones with the SnapDragon processor ;)
Iused to be a Softie...but now I am a Googlie ! Go Google !

[Super2online]

HTC is releasing a new WinMo 6.5 phone that features Qualcomm's new 1GHz Snapdragon mobile processor. CNET says it is arguably the sexiest and most powerful of all the new WinMo phones and raved about the screen. But you can check out the article yourself dated 08Oct2009 here:

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-12261_7-10371014-10356022.html?tag=mncol

[solitare_pax]

Sounds good that someone is coming out with e-books that will not be tied to a specific (and therefore limited) maker's platform.

[knowles2]

Sound good.

But where are the "Google are evil" fanboys, Microsoft not paying you any more.

[C.Schroeder]

So, what format will these ebooks be delivered in? Will it be an open standard? Will they be wrapped with DRM? The answers to these questions are crucial.

[RememberEZ]

Will Google provide an online submission process whereby authors can directly submit their manuscripts and cover art for e-book publication/distribution? It could be similar to the process for submitting manuscripts and cover art to dtp.amazon.com and lulu.com

[Besh32]

It is becoming a circus. Don't forget the advertisements. This would make it a VERY good deal!