With pressure from Microsoft and other nondedicated reader companies, NuvoMedia has undertaken several initiatives designed to increase market share.
Most notably, the company has lowered its price to $269, citing increased demand and less expensive technology. NuvoMedia still declines to reveal sales numbers, but did say that the last few months has seen a jump in sales that allows for a lower cost.
The company has also come to an agreement with Wallace's online arm, eCampus.com, to sell Rocket editions as well as Rocket hardware. The full Nuvo list of more than 2000 published titles is available on the site. The move marks Nuvo's greatest departure from its trade focus since its inception. CEO Martin Eberhard said the company is attempting to add as many retailers as possible and expects several major online booksellers to come on board in the next 12 months.
In addition to seeking a broad reach, the decision to branch out could be motivated by Nuvo's discontent with one current partner. Eberhard told PW that he's "much more pleased with the way Powell's has made it easier to download Rocket eBooks than [I am with] Barnesandnoble.com." One difference, he said, lies in the way bn.com handles credit cards; rather than check them in real-time, it makes the consumer wait for an e-mail as a bn.com employee checks the card. At Powell's, a real-time check allows for a Web page, with a link to a proprietary site where the book can be downloaded, to pop up immediately.
Among Nuvo's promotions is a deal with McGraw-Hill for four free titles and a $25 bn.com gift certificate. It also has started a 60-day risk-free promotion of the device. A link to the program appears in a banner ad on the New York Times on the Web.
