HarperCollins in secret talks with Apple about tablet (updated)
HarperCollins Publishers is negotiating with Apple to make electronic books available for the introduction of a new tablet device from Apple, according to the Wall Street Journal quoting "people familiar with the situation."
The piece notes that the upcoming Apple tablet device will pose quite a challenge to Amazon's Kindle.
HarperCollins is expected to set the prices of the e-books, which would have added features, with Apple taking a percentage of sales. Details haven't been ironed out.
The WSJ notes that HarperCollins CEO Brian Murray said last month that e-books enhanced with video, author interviews and social-networking applications could command higher retail prices for publishers than current e-books.
HarperCollins is a unit of News Corp., which also owns The Wall Street Journal.
PC World's Daniel Ionescu notes that the venerable New York Times has been considering moving to a paid model and that the timing is perfect to coincide with Apple's January 27 event. Jobs love-affair with the Times is evidenced by his use of it in almost every Web demo that he gives.
In November 2009 Condé Nast CEO Chuck Townsend said his company has been "communicating its plans to Apple" about a planned digital edition of its popular Wired magazine.
With more and more publishers on board, Apple's plan becomes a little clearer. Will the iTablet be the e-book reader to end all e-book readers?
Tip: WSJ