Electronic Publishing-Adobe Releases Content Server 3.0 for E-Books

While the fate of the e-book industry remains undecided, Adobe Systems Inc. is pressing forward with the release of Content Server 3.0, which the company describes as an "end-to-end software solution that enables the secure distribution of PDF-based e-books." James Alexander, Adobe's director of e-books, gave LJ an early run down of the system. Like previous incarnations, Content Server 3.0 will reside on the library's web site. Patrons simply find the title they want, click on it, and Adobe's software "will automatically fire up the e-book reader," downloading it and the desired title to the user's PC. Libraries set the loan period, and when the clock runs out, the e-book becomes inaccessible but not deleted from the user's hard drive. If the patron wishes to renew the item, another trip to the library's web site will restore access to the text.

When questioned about copying and printing text, Alexander said, "That will be the determination between the library and the publisher. Our technology enables the patron to copy and paste into a word document or print all or part of a book. I believe there will be new opportunities for libraries to deliver these types of functions, but these business models will be negotiated between the libraries and information providers."

He said that librarians could have several options for using e-books: "you might buy an e-book that has print, copy, and pasting turned on and you might pay a little more for that but that has additional value to your patrons." Adobe is cognizant of needs of both libraries and publishers. "Libraries protect the patrons, publisher's protect the authors, and Adobe's in the middle," quipped Alexander, adding that his firm is trying to "create a robust environment where all these parties can come together to benefit the patrons." He admits that concerns over piracy are genuine, but asserts that "you have to get the technology out there first to begin the discussion."

With many publishers terminating their e-book programs in the last 12 months, the outlook on the format looked grim, but Alexander insists that the tide is turning. "The pendulum had swung one way in the last 12 to 18 months, but it's safe to say that the pendulum has swung completely the other way, and it's coming back to a moderate view that e-books add a lot of value and a lot of unique features that you just can't get with physical books." There are some questions about the variety of formats currently available, but Alexander claims every major publisher produces Adobe PDF e-books. He adds that the market is young. "An informal poll of all our retailers has led us to believe that there will be more than a million e-books sold this year. Palm is selling 1000 e-books a day!" said Alexander.

As far as the sales of the underlying technology to make e-books actually work, Alexander said he is seeing triple-digit growth in sales over last year, "so the infrastructure is being laid." Adobe estimates there are between 50,000 to 60,000 PDF e-books available for sale through retailers, many of which are frontlist titles. The e-book industry overall believes there are 300,000 to 500,000 people who have bought e-books. "As e-books start to get exposure to the mainstream through libraries, I think we'll see this technology more widely used."

Adobe's partners, including Baker & Taylor, Follett, and other familiar names in the library market that will be selling the tool, have begun rolling out beta versions of their Content Server–based solutions with their online systems, "so we're hoping to build some excitement for libraries to want to participate in those programs," Alexander said. The product will ship in late summer or early fall.

The Content Server will cost $5000 for a singe destination site capable of holding 250 titles, with expansion packages available for $1000 per additional 500 titles. ASP-based pricing is $10,000 for the Content Server linked to one destination site hosting an unlimited number of titles. Libraries can tack on a second site for an extra $1500.