ANN ARBOR, Mich., June 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Borders® today
announced an important milestone in its overall digital strategy.
Through an expanded partnership with Kobo, Borders is now offering
customers access to one of the premiere eReading experiences in the
industry via the Kobo eBook store, one of the largest stores
worldwide, and Kobo apps that offer a unique social reading
experience. The company also announced a newly launched eReading
Blog and eBook club, giving the eReading community great eBook
deals, rich book-driven conversations, access to guest authors, and
the opportunity to indulge their love of eReading when and how they
want to.
(Logo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20060208/BORDERSLOGO )
"As a trusted authority in books, Borders is excited to team
with Kobo, a global leader in eReading, to expand and enhance
access to rich digital content, industry leading eReading apps and
eReading devices with cutting-edge technology," said Borders, Inc.
CEO Mike Edwards. "Borders and Kobo
will continue to work with global eReader brands to provide a
superior eReading experience to readers worldwide."
Kobo eBook store, apps available now on Borders.com
Beginning today, customers can visit Borders.com and easily
download the latest free Kobo eReading apps, transition their
existing Borders eBook library to their new Kobo library, or start
a new account with Kobo. Customers who register for a free Kobo
account or bring their Borders eBook library to Kobo will be
entered into a contest to win one of 10 $500 Kobo eGift cards. The contest runs through
August 31, 2011.
The free Kobo eReading apps are available for the iPhone, iPad,
iPod Touch, Android smartphones and tablets, Blackberry®
smartphones and the Blackberry® PlayBooks as well as PC and Mac
computers. Borders today sells the industry leading Kobo Wireless
eReader and is now accepting pre-orders for the all new Kobo
eReader Touch Edition, and expects customers will have the device
in time for Father's Day.
With the Kobo eReading experience offered though Borders,
customers can enjoy:
- Access to popular newspapers and magazines — in addition to
millions of ebooks, from the NYT's bestseller list, the hottest new
releases, thrillers and romance to Oprah's Picks and more,
delivered right to their devices;
- A unique and engaging social reading experience with Kobo's
"Reading Life" available via the Kobo apps, allowing customers to
earn awards for reading and share quotes and selections from the
books they are reading with friends on Facebook and Twitter;
- Exclusive eBook offers including great discounts on new
releases;
- App updates and new eReading features upon release;
- The option to gift eBooks to family and friends;
- The ability to borrow eBooks from local libraries;
- Easy library access — Borders and Kobo eBooks will be safely
stored in the customer's library.
"We are pleased to provide Borders' customers with a leading
eReading experience," said Mike Serbinis, CEO, Kobo, Inc. "Borders
customers will now be able to download the latest Kobo eReading
apps, access over 2.3 million eBooks, newspapers and magazines, and
try Reading Life, Kobo's social reading platform — where customers
can earn awards just for reading."
New Borders eReading Blog and Borders eBook Club
Borders has launched its first eBook club on Borders.com
featuring "The Story of Beautiful Girl" by Rachel Simon. Throughout the month of June, Ms.
Simon and the Borders Team will provide the back story behind the
title, such as the research she conducted while writing, to give
readers a one-of-a-kind book club experience. At the end of the
month, Borders will host a Facebook chat with Ms. Simon, giving
fans the opportunity to ask questions and engage with her on the
book.
Borders has also created the Borders eClectic Reader blog on
Borders.com where customers can enjoy something different every day
of the work week. Monday finds readers taking advantage of the Last
Chance Deal, which offers great savings on select eBooks. Tuesdays
feature the newest eBook releases, while Wednesday and Thursday
find book lovers indulging in book trailers, author questions and
answers, videos and musings by guest bloggers. On Fridays,
customers can enjoy posts by guest authors and experts on a variety
of engaging topics.
Kobo eReader™ Touch Edition Now Available for Pre-Order on
Borders.com
Rounding out Borders' latest eReading offerings is the Kobo
eReader Touch Edition, which customers can now pre-order on
Borders.com. The new device, which retails for $129.99, boasts a revolutionary new touch screen
experience with new Infrared Touch Technology. Equipped with the
newest E Ink Screen, the Kobo eReader Touch Edition is easy on the
eyes, even in bright sunlight, and with the Real Touch™ page
turning — the experience is just like reading a real book.
Created for readers by readers, the beautiful new design
provides the ultimate in reading comfort and is the most portable
eReader — thin and light, it travels easily anywhere. Kobo's
Reading Life, and industry-first social eReading platform, enables
readers to gain insight into their reading habits with Reading Life
Stats, which tracks the minutes per reading session, the number of
pages they've turned, plus provides an overview of books completed
in their library. In the coming weeks, customers will be able to
share the fun and exciting awards they receive for reading, as well
as their favorite book quotes and selections with friends, on
Facebook and Twitter.
About Borders Group, Inc.
Headquartered in Ann Arbor,
Mich., through its subsidiaries, Borders Group, Inc. is a
specialty retailer of books as well as other educational and
entertainment items. Online shopping is offered through
borders.com. Find author interviews and vibrant discussions of the
products we and our customers are passionate about online at
facebook.com/borders, twitter.com/borders and
youtube.com/bordersmedia. For more information about the company,
visit borders.com/media.
Safe Harbor Statement
This release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
One can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of
words such as "expect," "believe," "planning," "possibility,"
"opportunity," "goal," "will," "may," "intend," "anticipates,"
"working toward" and other words of similar meaning. One can also
identify them by the fact that they do not relate strictly to
historical or current facts. These statements are subject to risks
and uncertainties that could cause actual results and plans to
differ materially from those included in the company's
forward-looking statements.
These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to (i)
the ability of the company to continue as a going concern, (ii) the
company's ability to obtain Bankruptcy Court approval with respect
to motions in the chapter 11 cases, (iii) the ability of the
company and its subsidiaries to prosecute, develop and consummate
one or more plans of reorganization with respect to the chapter 11
cases, (iv) the effects of the company's bankruptcy filing on the
company and the interests of various creditors, equity holders and
other constituents, (v) Bankruptcy Court rulings in the chapter 11
cases and the outcome of the cases in general, (vi) the length of
time the company will operate under the chapter 11 cases,
(vii)risks associated with third party motions in the chapter 11
cases, which may interfere with the company's ability to develop
and consummate one or more plans of reorganization once such plans
are developed, (viii) the potential adverse effects of the chapter
11 proceedings on the company's liquidity or results of operations,
(ix) the ability to execute the company's business and
restructuring plan, (x) increased legal costs related to the
company's bankruptcy filing and other litigation, (xi) the
company's ability to maintain contracts that are critical to its
operation, to obtain and maintain normal terms with its vendors,
landlords and service providers and to retain key executives,
managers and employees.
In the event that the risks disclosed in the company's public
filings and those discussed above cause results to differ
materially from those expressed in the company's forward-looking
statements, the company's business, financial condition, results of
operations or liquidity, and the interests of creditors, equity
holders and other constituents, could be materially adversely
affected.
About Kobo, Inc.
Kobo is a global eReading service with more than 2.3 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 tablets. The Kobo eReader is also available at leading
retailers including Indigo, Walmart, Best Buy, Borders, WHSmith,
Angus & Robertson's and Whitcoull's. 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 to read. Kobo is backed by majority
shareholder Indigo Books & Music
Inc, Cheung Kong Holdings, Borders Group, Inc., and institutional
investors. For more information, please visit www.Kobo.com.
SOURCE Borders