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Google's e-book platform Google Editions will launch in the US before Christmas, it can be confirmed. Speaking at FutureBook 2010, The Bookseller's digital conference, Jason Hanley, strategic partner development, said the launch was now close, and the platform was expected to go live before the holiday season begins.
Hanley would not divulge a specific date, but said: "It will be before I go on my Christmas holidays, and I am taking an early holiday this year." When asked by fellow delegate the author Nick Harkaway, "Which Christmas?", Hanley confirmed that the launch was imminent. Hanley said that a European launch would follow soon after but said that it could be delayed as the firm irons out any wrinkles after the US launch.
The Bookseller has previously reported that contract discussions have begun in the US and UK over the launch, with Hachette US confirmed as one participant. The Wall Street Journal reports today that in recent weeks, independent booksellers, which are expected to play a big role in Google Editions,http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405274870436930457563260230575946... target="_blank" title="">http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405274870436930457563260230575946... began receiving contracts from their trade group. Several publishers said they were exchanging files with Google—a sign that it is close to launch, publishers say. PaidContent reports that http://paidcontent.org/article/419-googles-e-books-store-will-start-off-... target="_blank">Google Editions will launch with 500,000 titles.
The long-delayed venture recently has cleared several technical and legal hurdles, people close to the company told the WSJ. Scott Dougall, a Google product management director said: "Because of the complexity of this project, we didn't want to come out with something that wasn't thorough."
Publishers cautioned, however, that the project could be delayed again.