Google takes on Amazon with book downloads
27 October 09

It already dominates the world of internet search and has plans to open the biggest digital library ever seen - but Google has taken another step towards becoming the planet's most powerful information provider by announcing its plan to sell books online.
 
At the Frankfurt Book Fair, the publishing world's biggest gathering of the year, the Californian company said it was preparing to launch Google Editions - a new scheme that will allow it to sell electronic copies of books over the web.
 
Editions is set to launch in the first half of 2010, potentially giving readers in America and Europe access to around half a million titles including best-sellers and back catalogue books. Crucially, the store will be compatible with a number of devices - including mobile phones, computers and ebook readers - that could allow it to market services to millions of people worldwide.
 
Under Google's plans, readers will be able to download texts straight from Google Books website, or from the websites of book retailers, or directly from publishers who choose to work with the Silicon Valley company.