Australians will be able to buy digital books over the
counter at bookstores from next year using new technology designed
for Australian book publishers.

Chief executive officer of the Australian Publishers Association
Maree McCaskill said the take-up of ebooks in Australia had been
hampered by cost and availability issues and the lack of “a simple
system for ebook distribution”.

“This new system will allow Australians to download digital
books quickly and simply via participating bookstores,” she said in
a statement on Sunday. All booksellers using an APA program called TitlePage will be
able to access the system.

Customers wanting an eBook can go to a participating retailer,
check the title they want is available in the right format and
price, then give the store their email address and pay for the
book.

The system will email customers a unique web address they can
access to download the book at their convenience. McCaskill said the system should be operating in the first
half of 2010.

“Australian booksellers have been looking for an industry
solution to enable them to participate in this market, and this
system will minimise risk for them in a fast-moving landscape,” she
said.

Chief executive officer of the Australian Booksellers
Association, Malcolm Neil, said the initiative would ensure
“Australian readers have access to the choice of retailer which
suits them in this exciting new market”.

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