Kobo Launches German eReading Store, Native Language eReading Apps, German Kobo eReader Touch Edition

TORONTO, July 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Kobo, a global leader in eReading with over 4.2 million users worldwide, has expanded its international footprint with today's launch of one of the largest digital book stores offering German-language content, apps, and the new Kobo eReader Touch Edition in German.  With this launch, Kobo offers 80,000 German language titles and a total of 2.4 million eBooks, making it the largest eBookstore in Germany.  The new store, managed by a German team, features popular titles such as Susan Elizabeth Phillips' "Die schonsten Fehler meines Lebens," "Der alte Konig in seinem Exil" (Arno Geiger) and "Der ultimative Ratgeber fur alles" (Dieter Nuhr).

GROUND-BREAKING GERMAN READING APPS

As part of the launch, Kobo has developed free German-language apps for iPhone®, iPad®, iPod touch® and Android™, with a PlayBook™ app coming soon.  The apps bring a next-generation reading experience to users.  Kobo's German eBookstore debuts today at www.kobobooks.de with German-language best sellers, attractive new releases and classics that are part of the 80,000 title German eBook library.

"The European reading community is hungry for eBooks, and with our rollout in Germany we're realizing our vision of delivering local content and immersive reading experiences to more readers, on more platforms, in more countries around the world," said Michael Serbinis, CEO, Kobo, Inc. "We believe our country-specific launch into Germany as well as our upcoming entries into Spain, France, Italy and The Netherlands will be embraced by the European eReading community as consumers seek to build their lifetime digital libraries, reading over multiple devices, whether eReader, smartphone, tablet, desktop or netbook."

"In addition to the localized large-scale content launches, we're introducing language-specific versions of Kobo Reading Life in each country, bringing our popular social eReading platform to millions more users across Europe," continued Serbinis.  "Reading Life adds a new dimension to reading with social networking extending the enjoyment of a great book, building new connections and enriching the overall reading experience."

THE FIRST TRULY INTERNATIONAL eREADER

A German language version of the amazing, new, revolutionary Kobo eReader Touch Edition will be available in stores in August. The eReader uses Neonode's new zForce™ infrared touch technology to make the experience of reading on Kobo just like reading a real book.  With the latest Pearl E Ink™ technology, reading on the new Kobo eReader is just like reading print on paper – it is easy on the eyes, even in bright sunlight.  The Kobo Touch is powered by the new Freescale™ i.MX508 processor, a high-performance engine designed to enable fast page turning for electronic paper displays. A reading lover's dream, the new device boasts storage of up to 30,000 books with expandable memory.

EARN AWARDS JUST FOR READING

Kobo has also extended its popular Reading Life to be available in German on Kobo eReading apps for the iOS platform. Kobo introduced Reading Life to allow users to get more out of their reading experience. Reading Life is the most comprehensive social eReading experience and an industry-first social platform. With Reading Life, users can gain insight into their unique eReading fingerprint with Reading Life Stats. They can track the minutes per reading session of their current read, the number of pages turned, plus see an overview of books completed in their library. Users can also earn fun and exciting awards that celebrate reading accomplishments and milestones. Users can also connect and share their Reading Life with friends on Facebook.

The German content store and app launch is part of a large-scale expansion by Kobo to serve the European eReading community with local eBook best sellers and classics.  Kobo will be launching additional eBook stores in Spain, France, Italy and The Netherlands.  As the company continues to expand into other European countries, Kobo will introduce local-language apps with local currency support and Reading Life to serve each country's digital reading needs. This builds on Kobo's overall goal to bring eReading to everyone around the world, with eReading materials that serve countries lacking broad access to localized digital content.

Users in Germany can download Kobo apps for free from the Apple App Store(SM), Android Market and BlackBerry® App World™ as well as from http://www.kobo.com/WillkommenbeiKobo immediately.  Other European market launches are scheduled over the next several months.

About Kobo, Inc.

Kobo is a global eReading service with more than 2.4 million eBooks, magazines and newspapers – one of the largest eReading catalogues in the world.  Kobo believes consumers should have the freedom to read any book on any device and has attracted millions of readers from over 100 countries across the globe.  Kobo has top ranked eReading applications for iPad, iPhone, BlackBerry, Android, Windows and MacOS, and is the eReading application of choice for leading tablet OEMs.  The Kobo Wireless eReader and the new Kobo eReader Touch Edition are available at leading retailers, including Indigo, Walmart, Best Buy, Borders and WH Smith.  Kobo's innovative Reading Life is an industry-first comprehensive social eReading experience – Kobo users can earn awards simply for time spent reading and encouraging others.  Kobo is backed by majority shareholder Indigo Books & Music Inc, Cheung Kong Holdings, and institutional investors.

iPad, iPhone and iPod touch are registered trademarks of Apple, Inc. App Store is a service mark of Apple, Inc.  Android is a trademark of Google Inc. BlackBerry is a registered trademark of Research In Motion.  PlayBook and BlackBerry App World are trademarks of Research In Motion.

SOURCE Kobo, Inc.