1. Borders Bookstore Enters eReader Market with their Kobo
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2. May 9, 2010
Borders bookstore just entered the e-Reader market by announcing their "B & N Nook Competitor",
the "Kobe". Borders will start taking pre-orders for the Kobo eReader now, said a spokesperson from
Borders.
The Kobo has a 6-inch e-ink screen that measures just 0.1-inch thin and weighs a half-pound. For $149
the Kobo will ship to your door on June 17th and will come packed with over 100 classic books.
Borders is not going to exclusively sell the Kobo and nor did they build the device, unlike their
competitor Barnes And Noble who developed and sells the Nook e-reader. In fact, the Kobo is just one
of many e-readers the bookstore plans to sell, all in an effort to sell e-books from their branded e-book
store.
Here's the release:
Borders® Launches Digital Initiative: Pre-Orders Now Open for Kobo™ eReader; eBook
Store and Apps Unveiled Next Month
ANN ARBOR, Mich., May 7, 2010 — Borders® rolled out its digital initiative today,
announcing that it is now taking pre-orders for the Kobo eReader and next month will
debut its eBook store and apps powered by Kobo — embarking on a strategy that will
provide rich digital content and a wide variety of devices that feature emerging
technologies. As a device-neutral, rich-content provider, Borders will sell the Kobo eReader
along with a variety of other eReading devices in Borders stores in special digital shops
called Area-e™, launching in August.
Pre-orders for the Kobo eReader, which will showcase the Borders branded eBook store,
are being taken atwww.borders.com/koboereader. The Kobo eReader has been touted as
“the real Kindle killer” by “Wired Magazine” because of its attractive features and low
price — just $149.99. In fact, the Kobo eReader is among the most affordable eReaders
available, giving consumers an economical introduction to eReading via a stylized, easy-to-
use, eInk based reader. To get consumers started with their eReading experience, the Kobo
eReader will come preloaded with 100 classic books. The Kobo eReader will begin arriving
at customers’ homes beginning June 17, in time for Father’s Day.
The upcoming Borders eBook store will feature over a million titles, which consumers will
be able to discover and purchase through the Borders.com Web site and through free
Borders apps available for the iPhone, Blackberry and Android as well as the iPad and all
PC’s.
“We’re excited to offer the Kobo eReader to our customers, the first of what will be a wide
selection of eReaders we’ll sell, along with an online store that supports a variety of
devices, giving consumers freedom in the eBook world at the best possible value,” said
Borders Group Interim President and Chief Executive Officer Mike Edwards. “We are
giving consumers the flexibility to read the content they want on a variety of devices of
their choosing. The Borders eBook store will be positioned as a device-agnostic, content-
focused destination with expertise from decades of deep book knowledge and experience.
We’ll also have a strong in-store digital presence through our Area-e™ boutiques, which
will launch in August. It’s a niche position within our industry and one where we fully

3. intend to leverage our knowledge and products to serve the growing eReading needs of our
customers.”
“We’re pleased to introduce the Kobo eReader to the U.S. market through distribution at
Borders,” said Michael Serbinis, CEO of Kobo. “Borders’ customers will value the
affordable price point, range of content and reading experience offered through the Kobo
eReader.”
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