Google Launches eBooks Division to Compete with Amazon

Internet giant Google got into the eBook business this week, launching Google eBooks, offering more than three million titles for download. 

The move appears aimed at Amazon.com, since the new Google bookstore offers books in formats compatible with Internet browsers, both Apple and Android mobile devices and nearly every other ebook readers - except Amazon's Kindle.

Google says consumers won't need any special device, like an ebook reader, to access the books. It turns every laptop and mobile phone into an ebook reader, the company said.

Publishers will set the prices but most books can be downloaded for around $10. Purchases are charged to the consumer's Google Check-out account.

While consumers may purchase ebooks from Google directly, they will also be able to purchase them through affiliated bookstore sites. The Christian Science Monitor reports the move could provide a much-needed sales lift to independent brick and mortar book stores, who tend to struggle against national chains in a tough economy.

"We are quite pleased with this, Michael Tucker, president of the American Booksellers Association in Tarrytown, N.Y., told the newspaper. "We think this will be a boon for independent booksellers to offer customers digital format books. We wanted to [join the e-book market], but we had no ability to do that until now.

Peter Pachal, of PC Magazine, points out that the Google bookstore differs from competitors in that it's based on cloud computing. 

"Will cloud storage give Google an edge over competing services like the Kindle and Nook bookstores? The search giant is certainly an expert on cloud computing, but pricing will obviously be a big factor as well," Pachal writes.