Apps for All: Kobo Releases eReading Application for Windows 8

TORONTO, February 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Kobo Inc. today announced that the company will be one of the first eBook retailers to have an app featured in the Windows Store concurrent with the release of the Windows 8 Consumer Preview.

Built using HTML and Java Script, Kobo's app offers a personalized, secure and central destination where people can manage their entire Kobo reading experience. The new app was one of just a handful selected for release with the Consumer Preview of Windows 8.

The new Kobo app offers new and exciting features:

• Revamped Look and Feel
  • A new and improved interface immerses you in your books
  • A gorgeous library view that let's you search and find your books easily
• Cloud Storage
  • Cloud storage lets you access your entire library from wherever you are
  • Never lose your books - they're safe and secure in the Cloud
• Freedom to Read Anywhere
  • Read on your desktop PC or even from your Windows 8 tablet

"Microsoft has a history of being a technology leader in personal computing, and apps have shown the way of the future," said Michael Serbinis, CEO of Kobo Inc. "Windows 8 represents an opportunity for the app development community. Kobo is thrilled to be involved, and we're looking forward to reaching this exciting milestone with Microsoft."

Using Kobo's desktop application, consumers can instantly access their library and download their purchases directly to their home PC or tablet to read offline later, without an Internet connection. The Kobo app also enables users to shop for eBooks through the integrated Kobo eBook Store and download content to their desktop to easily build and manage their library.

"We believe consumers want choice and the freedom to read on any device. Building great eReading apps and working with leading manufacturers such as Microsoft is a recipe for success in this quickly growing market," said Serbinis.  "This latest collaboration is a continuation of Kobo's 'Read Freely' philosophy, where we provide a world-class catalogue, complementary mobile apps and a global infrastructure suitable for any market."

About Kobo, Inc.

Kobo Inc. is one of the world's fastest-growing eReading services offering more than 2.5 million eBooks, magazines and newspapers - and counting. Believing that consumers should have the freedom to read any book on any device, Kobo has built an open-standards platform to provide consumers with a choice when reading. Inspired by a "Read Freely" philosophy and a passion for innovation, Kobo has expanded to nearly 200 countries, where millions of consumers have access to localized eBook catalogues and award-winning eReaders, like the Kobo Touch. With top-ranked eReading applications for Apple, BlackBerry, Android, and Windows products, Kobo allows consumers to make eReading social through Facebook Timeline and Reading Life, an industry-first social experience that lets users to earn awards for time spent reading and encouraging others to join in. Headquartered in Toronto and owned by Tokyo-based Rakuten, Kobo eReaders can be found in major retail chains across the globe.

For more information, visit http://www.kobo.com.

For further information:
Karina St. Jean/Jim Hughes
Rogers & Cowan    
+1-212-878-5108
+1-310-854-8275
kstjean@rogersandcowan.com
jhughes@rogersandcowan.com