Google opens e-bookstore in the US, the rest of the world needs to be patient

Google has opened an online e-bookstore yesterday, under the surprising name Google eBooks.

In line with Google’s mission to make all information in the world accessible, the media giant presents the online e-book shop as a platform that aims to "make it easier for writers to find new audiences for their books, and for readers to find, buy, and read books on most devices."

In Google’s shop, not only their own e-books will be sold. Independent shopkeepers and publishers are also invited to use Google’s digital shop window to present their wares to audiences.

To read books from Google’s shop, one uses Google’s web reader for tablets and netbooks. Additionally, the company is developing e-reader apps for their own Android platform and Apple’s infrastructure.

Google makes a digital copy of all sold books, so that earlier bought books can always be retrieved if one loses their reading device.

Google entering the book sellers guild means that the olicharchy, besides the dominant players Amazon and Apple, has a new member. Google is the only one of the Big Three that offers their wares without a predetermined platform. Amazon and Apple have chosen to release their wares only for their own infrastructure.

Google eBooks is now open in the US only. Next year, the shop will open its doors in other countries, too.