Kobo to take over from Google with ABA indie bookstores

[lecoeur]

http://www.thebookseller.com/news/kobo-links-aba.html
It will be interesting to see if this works where google failed but with a potential 400 + new outlets for Kobo devices to be bought in, it seems like a good commercial move for Kobo.

[oj829]

I notice the words "affiliate scheme".

Doesn't Google have both an "affiliate scheme" (akin to web-link revenue) with indies but also provide merchandise behind established indie web bookstores? I was under the impression that these were two distinct programs Google would be offering until the sunset. My credit card charges and emailed receipts currently come from my local indie store, not Google Books or Google Play, although they really are Google Books, available "in the cloud" from my Google Play account.

I read a ton of articles at the time Google announced the "divorce" with indies, and most were clear as mud, so I fretted about my own local. In general? Great news, btw. I patronize whoever does good by my local indie store, so once (if) this goes live with them, it's buh-bye, Google.

And I already have a Kobo Touch which I love.

[EDIT: Here's a blog article which clearly explains the two-tiered universe in Google/Indie bookstore land. The author understands what's CURRENTLY going on, and is confused about what life under Kobo is going to look like.

http://www.the-digital-reader.com/20...ils-are-vague/
]

[scrapking]

Originally Posted by oj829

[EDIT: Here's a blog article which clearly explains the two-tiered universe in Google/Indie bookstore land. The author understands what's CURRENTLY going on, and is confused about what life under Kobo is going to look like.

http://www.the-digital-reader.com/20...ils-are-vague/
]

Interesting read, thank you.

If Kobo is successful getting devices into these stores, the partnership is more likely to be mutually successful IMO, but time will tell.