College E-Textbook Market to Grow 50% in 2010, New Simba Report Finds

(Press Release) STAMFORD, CT, Marketwire—E-textbooks are finding their legs in the college market, growing at an estimated compound annual growth rate of nearly 49% through 2013, when they will account for more than 11% of textbook sales, according to the newly released "E-Textbooks in Higher Education" report from media industry forecast and analysis firm Simba Information.

"The digital transformation has infused new dynamism in the college publishing industry in the past year," said Kathy Mickey, senior analyst/managing editor of Simba's Education Group. "In the throes of a struggling economy, new devices and new formats have roiled the pot. Students, instructors and publishers are experimenting with the way textbooks and other instructional materials are created, marketed, distributed and used."

New print textbooks continue to dominate the college instructional materials market at a projected $4.46 billion in 2010. But the hard-charging e-textbook segment will grow about 50% to an estimated $181 million, according to Simba's most recent strategic market report.

"E-Textbooks in Higher Education" provides insight into:

*The quickly changing distribution models for college instructional materials;
*The role of learning management systems in marketing and distribution;
*The disruptive potential of open access materials and textbook rental programs on e-textbook segment growth.

One focus of "E-Textbooks in Higher Education" is a Simba analysis of the lessons learned from the series of e-reader pilot programs in the 2009-2010 academic year. "A sure sign of how willing instructors and students are to experiment with new ways of accessing textbooks they need is the spate of pilot programs for Apple's iPad, even after the tepid reception to the Kindle DX on campuses," Mickey said.

An appendix to the report offers an overview of e-book format evolution and methods used by consumers to view and purchase e-books—an additional tool for publishers, marketers and business development professionals in understanding market needs, trends and challenges.