Google is set to launch its ‘Google Editions’ electronic book store early next year in the UK, taking on the likes of Amazon and Apple in the growing online publishing market, according to a news report.
Bloomberg cites a person familiar with the company’s plans, stating that will open an online store for electronic versions of books in the U.S. this year and internationally in 2011.
The report said Google is already working with book publishers to sell hundreds of thousands of e-books, said the person, who asked not to be identified because details of the project haven’t been made public.
Google Editions will be a completely separate venture than Google’s existing Book Search feature, which digitizes and sells out-of-print books. The Google Books, initiative has been held up in court until a settlement with publishers is approved.
Through Google Editions, users will buy ebooks directly through Google or from online retailers (including independent bookstores) and add them to an ebook library tied to their Google account.
Michael Kirkland, a spokesman for Google, confirmed the company’s plan to start an online bookstore this year. He declined to comment further about the project.
