BEA 2010: Getting To the Details with Google Editions
No role for libraries, but publishers and booksellers get their questions answered.
Norman Oder -- Library Journal, 05/26/2010
- Google's cut still vague
- Many partners, just not the Kindle
- Smartphone app for direct purchases
Earler today at BookExpo America, Mark Nelson, a Google strategic partner manager, gave an overview of the plan to an audience of booksellers, publishers, and a few librarians.
Much of it was similar to the presentation earlier this month, but Nelson stressed to this audience that, in contrast to some other ebook platforms, no file conversion is required: Google either has the books digitized or can scan print copies or index digital ones.
The books will be available not only from Google and a broad network of resellers, but also directly via some ereading devices and smartphone apps. The new Android phones, for example, will offer that capacity.
Below, LJ summarizes some of the questions from the audience, and Nelson’s answers.
How can readers read a book when they’re out of Internet access? Can a book be downloaded?
The browser connection will cache titles, just in the way people can access Gmail offline. If publishers choose to allow downloads, books will be available in Adobe ACS4 files with digital rights management.
Would this work for periodicals?
Right now Google’s focusing on books, “but there's no reason the cloud can't be provided for other types of content.”
Can Google Editions be bought through the Kindle or iPad?
iPad, yes, Kindle, “not at the time of launch... We're open to working with any partner.” [Google is widely seen as taking aim at Amazon with this product.]
Can personal documents be put in a user’s Google Books library?
Don’t know.
Is there any intention to sell by the chapter?
“Not at this time. It's an interesting idea.”
Which publishers are participating at this time?
“I can't tell you that.”
What's the pricing arrangement?
“We're going to be pricing competitively in the market.”
How does Google make its money?
“The majority of revenue from these sales goes to the publisher. How does Google make money? Advertising. How do we monetize advertising?... We go to advertisers [and] say our user base is growing.”
What percentage will Google keep?
Can't say.
Will Google support the agency model of pricing, in which in which the publisher sets the prices and retailers get a fixed commission?
“If a publisher has an agency model, we will discuss that model with them.”
Will books include multimedia and live links?
“At first, multimedia will not be accommodated.” Live links? Not sure.
Will Google Editions be compatible with print-on-demand?
“We do want to provide features for users; it will be up to the publishers.”
How will titles surface in search results?
It’s up to Google’s search algorithm.
Are their plans for an affiliate program?
“Previews will be available on blogs/fan sites. We want to create a model that make it interest of bloggers/fan sites to point traffic to publishers’ titles.”
