Google to kill ebook reselling program by 2013

Published April 21, 2012 1:44pm

Google is winding down its e-book reselling program and ending it by January 2013, after admitting it did not do as well as expected.

In a blog post, digital publishing product management director Scott Dougall indicated Google will instead focus its efforts on Google Play.

"This change will help us focus on building the best ebooks experience we can across hundreds of devices with millions of books. Books will continue to be a major content pillar alongside apps, music and movies in the Google Play store," he said.

He said that when Google launched eBooks in 2010, it had a multi-pronged approach to selling e-books - online, on devices, and through resellers and affiliates.

But he said the reseller program had not gained the traction that we hoped it would, "so we have made the difficult decision to discontinue it by the end of January next year."

But he said that even with the change, customers will still be able to access and read their ebooks on the web, phones, tablets and compatible eReaders, "regardless of where they bought them."

In the meantime, he said Google will work closely with its 16 reseller partners as they transition in the coming months.

Also, he said booksellers will still be highlighted in the “Buy this book” section of Google Book search, supported with Google's affiliate program and have access to free Books APIs.

"Looking at the results to-date, it’s clear that the reseller program has not met the needs of many readers or booksellers. While our role as an ebooks wholesaler to booksellers will be coming to a close next year, we remain as committed as ever to making the eBooks experience from Google the best it can be for readers around the world," he said.

On the other hand, a separate article on TechCrunch said the American Booksellers Association sent a letter to its members announcing Google's ending its reseller program.

The program had allowed independent bookstores to operate an e-book storefront using Google as the wholesaler.

"Like so many other of Google’s well-formed but not particularly popular services, Books is getting the consolidation treatment. They’ll still offer e-books, of course, but their role as a middle man is coming to an end. They prefer to be the alpha and the omega, and will focus on their own storefront, the redesigned all-purpose Play store," TechCrunch said. — TJD, GMA News

Tags: google, ebook