Online books retailer Amazon.com, Inc., US, is set to launch a digital book library, for which it is reportedly in talks with book publishers. According to a report published in the Wall Street Journal, the library will enable customers to access a digitised content by paying an annual subscription fee.
Amazon will reportedly add the e-book library to its Amazon Prime Services, which has a $79 annual subscription for a unlimited two day shipping and access to movies and TV shows. The retailer may also look to bundle the service with its new tablet that is expected to release shortly to rival Apple's iPad.
Media reports indicate that the launch of the digital library by Amazon could further harm the print media. It could lower the cost of print books and the demand for them.
Amazon.com was among the group that blocked Google, Inc.'s attempt to digitise millions of books and publications to make it available online. The group included other Google competitors such as Microsoft and Yahoo as well as librarians, legal scholars, authors, publishers and technology companies.
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