NetBooks.com, a Web site offering downloadable digital titles for sale as well as print-on-demand services, has announced plans to add nearly 3000 digital titles to its online book catalogue through new agreements with a variety of publishers.
When viewed online, NetBooks.com's unusual technology displays the book's text in a separate browser window and allows for adjustable typefaces. Its titles are fully searchable; they do not scroll--the reader must click to the next screen-page. NetBooks also allows the viewer to see illustrations. NetBooks' technology is developed and licensed from its partner Ion Systems.
Currently, the site offers 200 titles--by arrangement with publishers, individual authors or works in the public domain--for online preview, purchase and/or download. Alex Kanakaris, CEO of NetBooks, told PW that beginning in early 2000, NetBooks.com will begin to offer some 3000 titles to its catalogue. So far, NetBooks has partner agreements with Hunter Publishing, Silver Lake Publishing, Access Publishers Network, Lionhearted Publishing, DelStar Books, Humanics Publishing and New Concepts Publishing.
NetBooks.com titles are secure online, although Kanakaris noted that, once downloaded, its books can be copied and shared. Publishers and authors can stipulate each title's range of access. NetBooks pricing begins at $2.95 per title.
The service is virtually free to publishers; there's a one-time cost for print-on-demand services. NetBooks' publishing partners can post 10 books for sale in a year. The publisher or author decides all the parameters and fees for printing, online viewing and purchasing.
