Google, owner of the world's largest internet search engine, plans to sell digital books as early as next month in a challenge to Amazon.com and Apple in the market for electronic publications.
The service would not be tied to any one device, Google spokesman Gabriel Stricker said yesterday.
The company has been working on the idea of selling digital books since 2006, according to its website.
An expansion into e-books fits with Google's effort to generate higher sales in businesses other than web search.
The new feature pits Google against Amazon.com, seller of the Kindle e-reader, and Apple, which offers digital books for its iPad tablet computer, released last month. About six million e-readers will be sold this year, up from three million last year, according to Forrester Research.
California-based Google fell US$24.23 ($33.65) to US$506.37 on the Nasdaq stockmarket. The shares have dropped 18 per cent this year.
Stricker declined to comment on financial details of the book sales.
Forrester said the Kindle had about 60 per cent of the e-reader market.
- BLOOMBERG
Google's e-books on sale as early as next month
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
