Walmart, Apple, Google offer new options on books
SAN FRANCISCO – Readers rejoice. Some of the world’s biggest companies are rolling out new electronic and audiobook offerings that will compete with giant Amazon for your eyes and ears, a digital tussle that could result in lower prices.
The latest volley came from Walmart, which said it was teaming with Rakuten, Japan’s top e-commerce company, to start offering e-books and audiobooks in the U.S. later this year. Prior to this Walmart hasn’t sold either.
Rakuten’s digital book division, called Kobo, offers nearly 6 million electronic books and audio books from tens of thousands of publishers. Walmart shoppers will be able to access the books through a cobranded app, which will launch later this year, and the Kobo e-Reader, which will go on sale at Walmart later this year. In a swap, Walmart will use its growing expertise in the realm of online grocery ordering and delivery to launch a a new collaboration with Rakuten in Japan.
Walmart’s announcement comes as two other players also make bookish moves, Apple with a rumored new e-book app that comes with hints about an audiobook tab, and an audiobook offering from Google, which said it will begin selling audiobooks through the Google Play Store, with many best-selling titles priced at under $10 each, at least to start.