Kobo Launches German Language Kobo eReader Touch Edition at IFA in Berlin

TORONTO, Sept. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Kobo, a global leader in eReading with over 4.2 million users worldwide, offers one of the largest digital German-language book stores, localized apps for both the iOS and the Android platform, and the new Kobo eReader Touch Edition is now available in German.  Since its launch in July, Kobo offers more than 80,000 German language titles and a total of 2.5 million eBooks, making it the largest eBookstore in Germany.  The German store, managed by the German Kobo team, features popular titles that include the Perry Rhodan Series, Stieg Larsson's "Verdammnis," "Der ultimative Ratgeber fur alles" (Dieter Nuhr) and "Die Frau an seiner Seite" (Heribert Schwan).

To mark the official launch into Germany, Kobo will have a booth at IFA where attendees can come and visit and experience Kobo for themselves by trying Kobo's localized German Touch eReader first-hand.  Visitors to the booth can pick up a Kobo button for a chance to win one of 20 Kobo Touch eReaders' to be given away during IFA.  Kobo's booth is located in Hall 6.2, stand number 205.

Kobo's Germany-specific eReader Touch Edition will be available at leading German retailers for euro 149 starting Oct 1, 2011.

"European readers have been looking for an eBook service that encompasses the full range of mobile devices, tablets, and eReaders - we are happy to step up and fulfill that need.  This announcement marks Kobo's entry into the European market and an industry first.  In providing local content and reading experiences for European readers, Kobo continues to build on the vision of giving people around the world the freedom to read on any device, and share their love of reading with friends." said Michael Serbinis, CEO, Kobo.

"We are excited to be able to deliver an end-to-end eReading experience to the German market and to be able to offer the largest German eBook selection to the German consumer," continued Serbinis.  "We remain focused on delivering the best and most innovative eReading experience to deliver on our goal of making eReading available to everyone, everywhere around the world.  Kobo continues to move forward with our country-specific upcoming entries into Spain, France, Italy and The Netherlands and remains focused on delivering a first-in-class experience to the European eReading community."

INDUSTRY LEADING GERMAN READING APPS

Kobo offers free German-language apps for iPhone®, iPad®, iPod touch® and Android™, and an eReading app for  PlayBook™, the Kobo apps deliver a next-generation reading experience to users.  Kobo's German store will be launching in early October and can be found at www.kobobooks.de with German-language best sellers, the hottest new releases and classics that are part of the 80,000 title German eBook library. Kobo will be launching a fully integrated German website experience in the beginning of October.

NEW KOBO eREADER TOUCH EDITION - NOW IN GERMAN

The new Kobo eReader Touch Edition was designed in partnership with leading design firm IDEO, with months spent listening to reader feedback to build a truly advanced reader that delivers a 'true to life' experience.  With the Kobo-signature soft quilted back and travel friendly size, the new Kobo eReader Touch offers the ultimate reading experience. The beautifully designed Touch Edition uses infrared touch technology to make the experience of reading on the Kobo Touch just like that of reading a real book.  Using a simple swipe, tap or slide on the Pearl E Ink display, readers can easily turn pages, highlight phrases for lookup in the Touch Edition's onboard dictionary, zoom, rotate, jump through chapters of the book and more.

The new eReader was the first to be powered by the new Freescale™ i.MX508 processor, a high performance engine designed to enable fast page turning for electronic paper displays.   A reader's dream, the new device boasts storage of up to 30,000 books with expandable memory, and battery life of up to one month.

A CUSTOMIZABLE READ  

With the latest Pearl E-Ink™ technology, reading on the new Kobo eReader is just like reading print on paper – it is glare free and easy on the eyes, even in bright sunlight.  Featuring seven fonts, the ability for users to load unlimited fonts (each with 25 size settings), adjustable line spacing and adjustable margins, the Kobo eReader Touch Edition is fully customizable to fit individual reading styles.  

EARN AWARDS JUST FOR READING

Kobo has also extended its popular Reading Life platform to be available in German both on the Kobo eReader Touch Edition and the 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 and Twitter.

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 2.5 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 is available at leading retailers, including Indigo, Walmart, Best Buy, WH Smith, Collins Booksellers and Whitcoull's.  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.

Contact: Karina Tang/Kourtney Schepman
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SOURCE Kobo, Inc.