B&N and Microsoft Unveil Nook Media

[tubemonkey]

Barnes & Noble, Microsoft Close Deal, Unveil Nook Media

Barnes & Noble and Microsoft are now officially partners; the two firms closed a deal first announced in April and announced that their newly formed venture will be known as Nook Media.

Nook Media includes Barnes & Noble's digital and college businesses and a $300 million investment from Microsoft.

The deal gives Microsoft a 17.6 percent equity stake in Barnes & Noble, with the retailer holding the remaining shares.

[BeccaPrice]

and somebody else apparently owns the websites and twitter accounts.

http://www.the-digital-reader.com/20...twitter-names/

[jgaiser]

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

and somebody else apparently owns the websites and twitter accounts.

http://www.the-digital-reader.com/20...twitter-names/

<NELSON>
Ha Ha
</NELSON>

[forsooth]

What are ramifications internationally?

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by forsooth

What are ramifications internationally?

Of what?
The launch?
Or of somebody else owning the web and twitter addresses they didn't bother to research before adopting?
The launch? Not much. It's just a PR release.

The address issue? They'll have to throw a few millions of Microsoft money around to buy the addresses. Or pick and announce a new name that isn't already owned.
The former, more likely.

[Apache]

Unless B&N and Microsoft can prove he is a squatter.
Apache

[jgaiser]

Originally Posted by Apache

Unless B&N and Microsoft can prove he is a squatter.
Apache

Article says he's had it since 2010. Gonna be kind of hard to prove squatting. But then, Microsoft's pockets are deep and the kid in Sweden probably won't be able to match the money.

[murraypaul]

The deal gives Microsoft a 17.6 percent equity stake in Barnes & Noble, with the retailer holding the remaining shares.

This portion of the PCMag article is incorrect.
Microsoft own 17.6% of the newly formed Nook Media company, not of Barnes and Noble.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by jgaiser

Article says he's had it since 2010. Gonna be kind of hard to prove squatting. But then, Microsoft's pockets are deep and the kid in Sweden probably won't be able to match the money.

According to the Digital reader blog, the owner has a business designing Gambling websites. So, proving squatting is going to be hard and he is hardly penniless. He can drag it out enough that a buyout is pretty much guaranteed. (This isn't Apple vs Cisco but the "kid" will still get a good payoff.)

[caleb72]

I wonder if Microsoft will help take them into international waters with their digital business.

EDIT: Should read before I type.

We are also excited by Nook Media's product roadmap and expansion into markets around the world as demonstrated by their recent launches in the United Kingdom.

[supermighty]

It's a very interesting business partnership. I'm not sure if I understand it. What does Microsoft have to offer and what does it get out of it? What does BN get out of it?

If I had to guess I would say that they want to transform the online Nook store into a full digital competitor to iTunes, Amazon and Google Play. Where they would offer books, movies, TV and music to windows devices.

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by supermighty

It's a very interesting business partnership. I'm not sure if I understand it. What does Microsoft have to offer and what does it get out of it?

They offer money.
They get the Nook business switching to use Microsoft backend systems, they get development of reader software for Windows/Windows phone, and Nook Media expanding to new geographies.

What does BN get out of it?

That would be the money bit.

[Lord Mahoney]

If Windows RT takes off and becomes a viable competitor to Android and iOS, there is a possibility of Microsoft convincing Barnes & Noble to switch platforms.

[derangedhermit]

Originally Posted by Lord Mahoney

If Windows RT takes off and becomes a viable competitor to Android and iOS, there is a possibility of Microsoft convincing Barnes & Noble to switch platforms.

Too expensive for an e-reader ($80-$150). Even Windows Phone 8 may be too expensive. Maybe the tablets.

[kevinp]

Originally Posted by supermighty

If I had to guess I would say that they want to transform the online Nook store into a full digital competitor to iTunes, Amazon and Google Play. Where they would offer books, movies, TV and music to windows devices.

Exactly! MS wants to combine their own app store with someone else already established with books and videos. Apple sure as crud wouldn't join forces with MS and Amazon is the biggest (what do they need MS for?). So, why not join up with struggling B&N? Between the two of them, they could come up with a pretty nice app store for Microsoft's new tablets.