Say what? Rumor has it that the Barnes & Noble e-book reader that will be competing with the Amazon.com Kindle will be powered by Google Android. The rumor was started by a source over at Gizmodo. The source apparently works for the mobile apps division over at B&N. Although a colored version of an e-book reader with applications sounds very appealing, I’m going to take this rumor with a grain of salt.

iRex Technologies, Verizon, and Best Buy have made a partnership. Best Buy will sell the iRex DR800SG in their stores with unlimited Verizon 3G data speeds. The DR800SG will cost $399 and have an 8.1″ touchscreen.

E-books will be downloaded from the Barnes & Noble online store. The e-bookstore also has 1,100 newspapers from Newspaper Direct. The 3G connection is powered by Qualcomm Gobi radio technology. Best Buy will be selling the DR800SG next month. The e-book reader also comes with a stylus as pictured above.

Dutch company IREX Technologies and Barnes & Noble have made an alliance.  IREX is the second e-book reader company to have partnered with Barnes & Noble with Plastic Logic being the first.  Plastic Logic plans to launch an e-book reader next year itself.

IREX said that their partnership with Barnes & Noble will not be exclusive.  IREX is already selling e-book readers in Europe, but not yet in the U.S.  Irex’s e-book reader will have an 8.1″ touch screen and 3G wireless connection.

“We will change the dynamics of the consumer market – users want to easily purchase content from a variety of sources and we allow them to read it on an IREX eReader as well as other devices,” stated Irex North American CEO Kevin Hamilton.

The world’s largest bookstore Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE:BKS?) has designed an iPhone application that is available on the iPhone and iPod Touch.  Users can read book reviews and find store information.  In order to build the application, Barnes & Noble partnered with LinkMe Mobile and Spotlight Mobile.

One of the built in features allows users to take a picture of a book and immediately see reviews and other information about it.  While it is just as easy to use a Google search to find the information, this feature just makes the application more intuitive.

There are several other useful features.  There is a local store events section that shows up after searching for a local store.  There is also online purchasing so you don’t have to use the website directly anymore.  For those of you interested in individual authors, there is a section called B&N Studio where there are author interviews.  Another feature is a reservation system that allows you to have a store hold books, music, or movies for you.

The application is available for free and was created because the company wanted to increase their store mobile traffic.

[via CNET]

The Kindle has been seeing a fair share of attention. However book store companies aren’t happy that this little device can carry around so many books. Less people would want to walk into their stores and pick up physical books. Barnes & Noble has supposedly had enough because they are rumored to be working on a little device of their own.

This rumor originates from last week’s CTIA conference. B&N is working with a cellular company too. SlashGear believes that the partner is most likely Sprint. Sprint is already working closely with Amazon.com so this would give B&N access to an experienced partner.

Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE:BKS) has acquired Fictionwise, an ebook company for $15.7 million.    This gives Barnes & Noble a chance to compete online.  Barnes & Noble will also payout Fictionwise over the next couple of years based on performance.  Fictionwise will remain as an independent division until the deal closes.  Steve and Scott Pendergrast, founders of the company will remain in their current positions.

[via AP]

Ann Arbor, Michigan-based, Borders Group Inc. (NYSE:BGP) has been depending on Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) to power their website over the last seven years.  On March 17 2007, the company announced that that they were planning to sever ties with Amazon and compete directly with them.

“We expect to drive sales and profits with it,” stated Borders spokeswoman, Anne Roman in 2007 when talking about the upcoming website.  “We can mesh the in-store sales with online, which is something we have been missing.”

Although the financial information was undisclosed, Seattle PI estimates that the loss of Border’s could cost Amazon.com $80-$160 million in annual revenue. Amazon.com currently powers the websites for Sears Canada & UK, Target Corp., Benefit Cosmetics, Times, Bebe, Marks & Spencer, Lacoste, Mothercare, and AOL’s Shop@AOL. Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE:BKS) is currently researching the feasibility of buying out Borders. 

Below is the design for the new site:

The new look is very Web 2.0.  The new website uses a Flash-based feature called The Magic Shelf that allows the user to browse up, down, left, and right through a bookshelf.  Border’s website also monitors your book tastes and has a Picked For You feature.

The website also features visual media programs such as live store performances on Borders Live at 01, chefs in the Borders Kitchen, and discussions in the living room with Borders Book Club.  The website also directly connects with Borders Rewards membership coupon cards.

Compared to the old Border’s website, the new version is a lot more creative.  The old version look very identical to Amazon.com itself.  The only problem with the new site is that it struggles with search engine optimization.  The site is ranked 300,000+ on Alexa compared to Amazon.com’s rank 29.  Borders needs search optimization experts to help them so that when someone searches for a book on Google, Borders is up there with Amazon.

According to my Google toolbar, Borders’ website doesn’t appear to have a PageRank either.  This could directly affect their traffic.  Google should give them a PageRank boost.

Information Sources:
[1] Seattle Pi: Borders shelving Amazon alliance by Craig Harris
[2] MLive.com: Barnes & Nobles puts together team to look at buying rival Ann Arbor-based Borders by Stefanie Murray