Well it looks as if the eBooks space has a new entrant — JB Hi-Fi appears to have launched a new eBook service called, simply, NOW Books.
Sporting an accompanying app that works on both iOS and Android, it looks like they’re at least opening up their wares to the widest possible segment of mobile device users. A quick glance through suggests the prices are not particularly remarkable — for example, Lancaster Men by Peter Rees is shown on the front page of NOW Books for a list price of $27.98 AUD. Kobo Books lists the same title at $18.39 (USD), but even factoring in currency conversion, Kobo comes out ahead.
Nonetheless, having a bit more of a local selection, and a local service, is something that’s usually beneficial. We haven’t heard anything official about the launch of NOW Books, but if we find out more, we’ll be sure to let you know.
I’d like to see them do audio-books. That’s certainly my preference for reading.