Blio Now Available on Android Smartphones and Tablets

WELLSELEY HILLS, Mass., Aug. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- K-NFB Reading Technology announced today that Blio, a leading interactive and flexible e-reading application, is now available for download from the Android Marketplace onto any tablet or smartphone running Android  2.2 and higher. Baker & Taylor, the world's largest distributor of print and digital books powers Blio's Android digital storefront, which includes millions of paid and free titles directly from the application, offering a seamless buying and reading experience. 

"With Blio, people don't just read books, they experience books. Now more readers can immerse themselves in the topics they love and see their books come to life," said Ray Kurzweil, inventor and founder of K-NFB Reading Technology. "Blio offers the most versatility for readers, and making Blio available on Android devices lets many more readers take their library wherever they go."

Readers with an existing Blio account can now read all their books on their Android device by downloading the app from the Android Marketplace and entering their Blio username and password. Books that have been previously purchased through Blio will be automatically available.

"Because of our unique relationship with both large and specialty publishers, Blio offers one of the most robust digital libraries available to consumers," said Bob Nelson, President of Baker & Taylor's Digital Group. "One of the greatest advantages of Blio is that consumers can access the reading application, a full store and their virtual library from whatever device they want to use at any given moment.  It doesn't require a dedicated reading device, and it doesn't tie your library to a single device.  That's the kind of flexibility consumers want."

Connect with Blio and Baker & Taylor on Twitter at twitter.com/Blioreader and twitter.com/BakerandTaylor.

About K-NFB Reading Technology Inc.

A joint venture between Kurzweil Technology and the National Federation of the Blind, K-NFB Reading Technology Inc. has propelled reading technology forward for the last 30 years through the invention of omnifont OCR, flatbed scanners, text-to-speech technology and reading machines for the blind. K-NFB once again is redefining the boundaries of the printed word through Blio, which promises to set the standard for digital reading. This free application works across platforms and presents books as they were intended - in full color and as laid out by the publisher. K-NFB is headed by CEO Ray Kurzweil, a 30-year innovator and pioneer in assistive technologies. The National Federation of the Blind is the largest, most influential membership organization of blind people in the United States.

About Baker & Taylor

Baker & Taylor Inc. (www.baker-taylor.com) is the world's largest distributor of books, digital content and entertainment products. The company leverages its unsurpassed worldwide distribution network to deliver rich content in multiple formats, anytime and anywhere. Baker & Taylor offers cutting-edge digital media services and innovative technology platforms to thousands of publishers, libraries and retailers worldwide.  Baker & Taylor also offers industry-leading customized library services and retail merchandising solutions. Baker & Taylor is proud to power Blio (blioreader.com), the world's most flexible, engaging and revolutionary e-reading application. Charlotte, N.C.-based Baker & Taylor is majority owned by Castle Harlan Partners IV, L.P., an institutional private equity fund managed by Castle Harlan, Inc., a leading private equity investment firm.

Baker & Taylor and the Baker & Taylor logo are trademarks of Baker & Taylor Inc. Blio is a trademark of K-NFB Reading Technology, Inc. Other company and product names mentioned for identification purposes may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Follow Blio and Baker & Taylor on Twitter at @Blioreader and @BakerandTaylor.

SOURCE Baker & Taylor, Inc.