Borders and Kobo join forces for e-reader device they can call their own

Fashionably late to the e-book handheld party, Borders and Kobo announced today a partnership that includes plans to develop and release both an e-reader and e-book service. Mum's the official word on hardware, but The New York Times Bits blog is claiming there'll be "more than one version" released, all with wireless connectivity and all sold at Borders retail locations, naturally. Unfortunately, there's no release date or window mentioned on that front. As for the service, the duo are taking a page from Barnes & Noble's playbook and claiming device neutrality, meaning they'd like to see their ePub-focused platform available to any and all devices possible, form mobile to desktop and everything in between. Sounds great, but what we're really keen to hear about is this new e-reader -- let's hope they've been taking notes on the successes and failures of their most immediate competitors.

[ijames99 Posted Dec 15th 2009 10:59PM]

Everyone wants to be part of the new hotness.

[ROFL Posted Dec 15th 2009 11:30PM]

Yes, she does.

[Greendogo Posted Dec 16th 2009 2:28AM]

@ijames99
Is that supposed to be a sly remark about the booksellers' contribution to carbon emissions?

[Carld Posted Dec 15th 2009 11:06PM]

Really? Another one?

[ngko Posted Dec 15th 2009 11:07PM]

Curiously last time I was passing by a Borders bookstore, and was just wondering when they will get their own e-reader. Competition only benefits the customer. Good idea.

[yulebellow Posted Dec 15th 2009 11:16PM]

If anyone can take on the daunting task of device neutrality its. . .Borders?

what?

[vivalagloria21 Posted Dec 15th 2009 11:27PM]

I don't want to sound like a jerk know it all but "form" mobile to desktop just doesn't make sense.

[mrmckeb Posted Dec 15th 2009 11:41PM]

Out of interest, I have an account on Engadget - so how do I become 'verified'... it even says that I'm logged in as mrmckeb!

[mrmckeb Posted Dec 15th 2009 11:42PM]

Oh wait, now it works... Now if only I could change my display picture...

[VanillaSpice Posted Dec 15th 2009 11:49PM]

@mrmckeb - click your name above your comment,or go here - http://www.engadget.com/profile/132708/

and then click 'Edit Picture'

[tkcom Posted Dec 15th 2009 11:51PM]

"Cranny" would've been a perfect name for it.

[JChez Posted Dec 16th 2009 12:44AM]

So Borders pulled a Barnes & Noble?

Wait, that is their entire business model! Whatever B&N does,Borders will do later (coffee bar, free wifi, ereader. . . )

[dystroglycan Posted Dec 16th 2009 12:47AM]

im somewhat interested, if it means we get some more foreign books

[Karate Tortoise Posted Dec 16th 2009 1:05AM]

(sigh)

another new netbook
another new e-reader
another new netbook
another new e-reader
another new netbook
another new e-reader
OMG GOOGLE PHONE
another new netbook
another new e-reader
another new netbook
another new e-reader

Welcome to engadget. It isnt their fault

[Fanfoot Posted Dec 16th 2009 2:43AM]

Another vendor supporting the Adobe DRM/ePub format so that someday we'll have portable eBooks is a good thing. Can't imagine I care about their device, but hey, maybe.

[bjsguess Posted Dec 16th 2009 3:09AM]

I don't understand the pricing strategy here. Why aren't eBook readers following the console strategy? Undercut your competition and put out a competitive eBook reader at $150. Shatter the Kindle and nook (lower case "n"). You make your money up in the selling of content. Tack on an extra buck or two per title. Over the life of the device users that buy more than 50 books pay off the subsidy. Everything beyond that is gravy.

50 books for an avid reader is nothing. Should be able to go through that in 6 months to a year.

I just happen to believe that the $250 price point is keeping people on the sidelines. Once that drops to $100 - $150 I bet you will see a huge adoption rate.

[musicfood Posted Dec 16th 2009 3:25AM]

So this is the same Borders that just went into Administration in the UK? Good luck with that.

[ChrisMav Posted Dec 16th 2009 9:28AM]

@musicfood

It is indeed

[Howzer Posted Dec 16th 2009 3:45AM]

Now if Amazon would only get off their high horse and ditch their proprietary azw file format and go epub the world would be a happier place.

[pika2000 Posted Dec 16th 2009 3:46AM]

We need a standard DRM-free format for ebooks that is supported by all devices. Alas, the juggernaut, Amazon, is using their own format and their own DRM. Even worse, publishers are in an even more ancient times than the recording industry. Looking back at how long we get DRM-free MP3/AAC as the standard distribution of online music legally, I'm afraid we're going to wait a looooong time for ebooks to follow suit.

[Howzer Posted Dec 16th 2009 4:25AM]

@pika2000 I've just got a dreadful sinking feeling that Apple are going to launch their tablet/ebook thingy selling books through iTunes with their own proprietary "Apple Reader" file format that is only compatible with their device and convolute the market even more. I hope they don't.