Glassbook and Lightning Source Announce eBook Alliance

Posted on August 25, 2000

Lightning Source Inc. and Glassbook, Inc. have announced an alliance to distribute eBooks and digital content over the Internet using Glassbook Reader and Server software. Lightning's digital library currently holds more than 13,000 titles and the company claims that recent publisher commitments will more than quadruple that total. Lightning already offers ebooks in competing formats including Adobe's PDF and Microsoft Reader. Glassbook's products, the Glassbook Reader and the Glassbook Plus Reader, are software programs for viewing eBooks on a laptop or desktop in full color.

``Consumers are sending a clear message that they want a wider selection of titles available in a broader range of formats -- both as printed and electronic books -- and more and more publishers are digitizing their titles to meet this demand,'' said Lightning Source President and CEO, Ed Marino. ``This agreement with Glassbook, a recognized leader in the development of eBook software, will give publishers, retailers, and consumers the selection, quality, and security they want by offering a veritable library over the Internet.''

``Lightning Source's relationships with publishers and retailers across the globe enables us to reach a broader audience with our products, giving more consumers the enhanced reading experience that Glassbook offers,'' said Len Kawell, Glassbook President. ``Lightning has an established track record in the e-content marketplace, and this collaboration promises to greatly expand the market for both of our companies.''