AfterDawn: News

Borders Books aiming for digital future

Borders Books is launching a new MP3 store of a different kind. Instead of selling music Borders.com will feature audiobooks in MP3 format, making them compatible with standard portable media players. They'll initially be offering a selection of 15,000 titles. Borders.com was launched just last year following a split from Amazon.com, where their online store had been hosted for seven years.

"With the launch of Borders Audiobook Downloads on Borders.com, the availability of the download service in our concept stores, and the option to buy audiobooks on CD, we are giving customers what no other book retailer does-the ability to enjoy this great form of entertainment in a variety of formats including the universally compatible MP3 format," said Kevin Ertell, senior vice president of e-business for Borders Group. "We look forward to growing our audiobook catalog so that customers always have access to the best selection of audiobooks available."



The company also recently opened a concept store in Ann-Arbor, Michigan where customers can already download both audiobooks and music directly from computers located in a special area of the store designated as the Digital Center. They can even create and burn their own custom CDs.

Written by: Rich Fiscus @ 15 Jul 2008 12:08

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• 5 comments

• emugamer

  Originally posted by windsong: They're late to the party...by about 10 years.
  
  Yawn..MP3 players weren't around 10 years ago as far as I know.

  15.7.2008 12:03 #1

• Pop_Smith

  That's cool, for those that enjoy reading but don't have the time they can now listen to the book(s) in their cars or while they exercise etc.
  
  Kind of like the old "Books on tape" or "Books on CD" but now you can have them in a more portable state.

  15.7.2008 13:29 #2

• windsong

  They're late to the party...by about 10 years.
  
  Yawn..

  15.7.2008 14:10 #3

• mspurloc

  I find it ironic that it's Amazon's Kindle that has made the breakthrough on digital books, which previously hadn't taken off, yet Borders split from them.
  Probably a smart move, though.
  Why pay Amazon a precentage to "warehouse and ship" digital inventory?

  16.7.2008 13:31 #4

• dysart147

  Quote:windsong (Junior Member) 15 July 2008 13:10
  They're late to the party...by about 10 years.
  
  Yawn..
  I guess that I don't understand that comment. Could you elaborate?

  18.7.2008 10:13 #5