Microsoft signs digital book deal

Microsoft has signed a deal to scan 100,000 books from the British Library and make them available online. Next year readers will be able to search about 25 million pages of material free of charge from books out of copyright.

Meanwhile, Amazon.com says it will launch two programs next year giving readers the opportunity to buy digital books.

Amazon Pages will let users buy internet access to individual pages, chapters or entire books, while Amazon Upgrade will provide online access to physical books bought by customers.