Shortcovers is an online mobile service that gives iPhone, Blackberry
(Storm, Bold and Curve), or Google Android device users access to books, authors, magazines, and other content.The service is provided by Indigo Books and Music and provides apps to read the content on the mobile devices.
A shortcover is the ideal read for consumers on the go. It's an excerpt
or chapter of a book; a blog post, magazine or newspaper article; or a
short story, speech or user inspired work, like a subway novel. Users
can read a sample for free, purchase a shortcover for as little as 99
cents or decide to buy the whole eBook, with an option to buy the
hardcopy version as well.
The service aslso provides users with tools to
share their favorite reads using a number of social media sites, such as
Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and others. The service also allows users to
create, share and sell their works directly.
Shortcovers is a global service. Consumers can buy in U.S. and Canadian
dollars, with plans to expand later in 2009.
Indigo Books & Music has leveraged their ongoing relationships with top
publishers, such as Random House, Simon & Schuster and HarperCollins, to
offer consumers enormous depth and breadth of content, and has made
thousands of current titles available through the service. Shortcovers
goes beyond simply delivering eBooks - the company has used its
extensive knowledge and understanding of the reading consumer, to create
a rich and entertaining experience that addresses the significant shift
in how people discover and consume their reading material today.
The Shortcovers
online and mobile services are free for customers to access and use.
There is an abundance of free content available with options to purchase
books, chapters where available, and other great content. New eBook
titles are cheaper than physical books, and typically priced in the
range of $4.99-$19.99. There is also a full library of free public
domain books. Shortcovers is adding thousands of books per week and will
rapidly expand their catalog beyond the top book publishers to include
magazines and newspapers. Content subscriptions will be made available
in the coming months.
Shortcovers mobile applications for iPhone, Blackberry and Android are
available at www.shortcovers.com/mobile.
The Shortcovers iPhone application is available for free download in the
iTunes App Stores worldwide. Other mobile applications will be made
available on device specific App Stores once those stores go live.
Shortcovers will be expanding their mobile application portfolio to
include applications for Symbian, Windows Mobile and Brew devices, the
Palm Pre, and other exciting new devices for reading.