Kobo Launches German Kobo eReader Touch Edition,
(Press Release) TORONTO – July 13, 2011 — Kobo, a global leader in eReading with over 4.2 million users worldwide, has expanded its international footprint
with today’s launch of one of the largest digital book stores offering
German-language content, apps, and the new Kobo eReader Touch Edition in
German. With this launch, Kobo offers 80,000 German language titles and
a total of 2.4 million eBooks, making it the largest eBookstore in
Germany. The new store, managed by a German team, features popular
titles such as Susan Elizabeth Phillips‘ “Die schönsten Fehler meines
Lebens,“ “Der alte König in seinem Exil“ (Arno Geiger) and “Der
ultimative Ratgeber für alles“ (Dieter Nuhr).
GROUND-BREAKING GERMAN READING APPS
As part of the launch, Kobo has developed free German-language apps for
iPhone®, iPad®, iPod touch® and Android™, with a PlayBook™ app coming
soon. The apps bring a next-generation reading experience to users.
Kobo’s German eBookstore debuts today at www.kobobooks.de
with German-language best sellers, attractive new releases and classics that are part of the 80,000 title German eBook library.
“The European reading community is hungry for eBooks, and with our
rollout in Germany we’re realizing our vision of delivering local
content and immersive reading experiences to more readers, on more
platforms, in more countries around the world,” said Michael Serbinis,
CEO, Kobo, Inc. “We believe our country-specific launch into Germany as
well as our upcoming entries into Spain, France, Italy and The
Netherlands will be embraced by the European eReading community as
consumers seek to build their lifetime digital libraries, reading over
multiple devices, whether eReader, smartphone, tablet, desktop or netbook.”
“In addition to the localized large-scale content launches, we’re
introducing language-specific versions of Kobo Reading Life in each
country, bringing our popular social eReading platform to millions more
users across Europe,” continued Serbinis. “Reading Life adds a new
dimension to reading with social networking extending the enjoyment of a
great book, building new connections and enriching the overall reading
experience.”
THE FIRST TRULY INTERNATIONAL eREADER
A German language version of the amazing, new, revolutionary Kobo
eReader Touch Edition will be available in stores in August. The eReader
uses Neonode’s new zForce™ infrared touch technology to make the
experience of reading on Kobo just like reading a real book. With the
latest Pearl E Ink™ technology, reading on the new Kobo eReader is just
like reading print on paper – it is easy on the eyes, even in bright
sunlight. The Kobo Touch is powered by the new Freescale™ i.MX508
processor, a high-performance engine designed to enable fast page
turning for electronic paper displays. A reading lover’s dream, the new
device boasts storage of up to 30,000 books with expandable memory.
EARN AWARDS JUST FOR READING
Kobo has also extended its popular Reading Life to be available in
German on Kobo eReading apps for the iOS platform. Kobo introduced
Reading Life to allow users to get more out of their reading experience.
Reading Life is the most comprehensive social eReading experience and an
industry-first social platform. With Reading Life, users can gain
insight into their unique eReading fingerprint with Reading Life Stats.
They can track the minutes per reading session of their current read,
the number of pages turned, plus see an overview of books completed in
their library. Users can also earn fun and exciting awards that
celebrate reading accomplishments and milestones. Users can also connect
and share their Reading Life with friends on Facebook.
The German content store and app launch is part of a large-scale
expansion by Kobo to serve the European eReading community with local
eBook best sellers and classics. Kobo will be launching additional
eBook stores in Spain, France, Italy and The Netherlands. As the
company continues to expand into other European countries, Kobo will
introduce local-language apps with local currency support and Reading
Life to serve each country’s digital reading needs. This builds on
Kobo’s overall goal to bring eReading to everyone around the world, with
eReading materials that serve countries lacking broad access to
localized digital content.
Users in Germany can download Kobo apps for free from the Apple App
Store℠, Android Market and BlackBerry® App World™ as well as from
http://www.kobo.com/WillkommenbeiKobo immediately. Other European
market launches are scheduled over the next several months.
About Kobo, Inc.
Kobo is a global eReading service with more than 2.4 million eBooks,
magazines and newspapers – one of the largest eReading catalogues in the
world. Kobo believes consumers should have the freedom to read any book
on any device and has attracted millions of readers from over 100
countries across the globe. Kobo has top ranked eReading applications
for iPad, iPhone, BlackBerry, Android, Windows and MacOS, and is the
eReading application of choice for leading tablet OEMs. The Kobo
Wireless eReader and the new Kobo eReader Touch Edition are available
at leading retailers, including Indigo, Walmart, Best Buy, Borders and
WH Smith. Kobo's innovative Reading Life is an industry-first
comprehensive social eReading experience – Kobo users can earn awards
simply for time spent reading and encouraging others. Kobo is backed by
majority shareholder Indigo Books & Music Inc, Cheung Kong Holdings, and
institutional investors.