Barnes & Noble also announced the launch of “nook,” a new eBook reader that enables users to access the company’s digital store of over one million eBooks, newspapers and magazines.

 

Simultaneously, Adobe Systems, which focuses on the development of multimedia and creativity software, announced it is joining forces with Barnes & Noble for further advancements in eBook distribution.

 

The two companies agreed to standardize the open EPUB and PDF eBook formats and collaborate on a content protection standard based on Adobe and Barnes & Noble technology. EPUB is a reflow-centric, XML-based open standard with broad support from the publishing industry and the Association of American Publishers. Barnes & Noble will support both PDF and EPUB.

 

The first Android (News - Alert)-based eBook reader, nook provides both 3G wireless access on AT&T’s mobile broadband network and access to WiFi for Barnes & Noble in-store browsing and enjoyment. Boasting of many ‘industry-first’ features, nook is also the first eBook reader to offer digital lending for a wide selection of eBooks.

 

By collaborating with Adobe, Barnes & Noble becomes the most portable and compatible eBookstore, and provides customers of nook and other compatible devices, as well as users of Barnes & Noble eReader software for iPhone (News - Alert), PCs, BlackBerry and other smartphones the ability to access digital content from thousands of content providers that is protected with Adobe technology, company officials said.

 

With this partnership, customers of Barnes & Noble also get the additional benefits of devices that use the Adobe Reader Mobile software development kit (SDK), which they will be able to purchase and read content from Barnes & Noble eBookstore.

 

Adobe is offering the Adobe Content Server, a server software solution that copy protects eBooks downloaded to nook, mobile phone applications and other dedicated eBook reading devices that have integrated the Adobe Reader Mobile SDK, company officials said.

 

In addition to this, Adobe is integrating Barnes & Noble’s eReader social content protection technology into Adobe Content Server, Adobe Reader Mobile SDK and, eventually, into Adobe Digital Editions.

 

With this, publishers and booksellers will be able to protect EPUB and PDF eBooks through either social password or identity-based authentication options, allowing their readers access to interoperable eBook content across diverse platforms.

 

“By standardizing on EPUB and collaborating with Adobe on a content protection standard based on Adobe technology, Barnes & Noble is delivering the richest range of content available, across a broader array of devices than anybody else,” said William J. Lynch, president of Barnes & Noble’s online site, in a statement.

 

Adobe’s comprehensive eBook solution proves beneficial to publishers because of their reduced cost and improved efficiencies, said Paul Weiskopf (News - Alert), senior vice president of corporate development at Adobe.

 

“Thousands of online booksellers, publishers and libraries have adopted Adobe’s content protection technology, and we’re excited to be working with Barnes & Noble to expand eBook distribution,” Weiskopf added.