Kobo Acquires Sony eBook Customers, Releases Update for Sony eReaders

As previously announced (see below), the Sony Reader Store closed on June 16, 2014. To ensure that existing customers weren’t left out in the rain with their purchases, Sony and Kobo struck a deal allowing customers to transfer their libraries to the Canadian-Japanese eBook specialist upon request.

After a long odyssey from its launch in Germany to its closure, we now take a reverse chronological look (from new to old) at the various stages the store has gone through.

June 21, 2014: Update Available for Sony PRS-T3 & Co.

The transition from Sony to Kobo is now in full swing, which means Kobo is sending out the promised emails with instructions on what to do. The email contains a personalized link that allows the transfer of the Sony eBook library to an existing or new Kobo account.

Additionally, there is now an option to access the Kobo eBook offerings directly from the eBook reader. Sony provides a software update for the Wi-Fi eReaders (PRS-T1, T2, T3). Representatively, here is the changelog for the new Software Version 1.1.01.17210 of the Sony PRS-T3. PRS-T1 (Version 1.0.07.05070) and PRS-T2 (Version 1.1.00.17210) have also received updates with the same changes:

“This firmware update applies the following changes to your PRS-T3 reader device.

• Replacement of the ‘Reader Store’ icon with the ‘Kobo eBook Store’ icon to enable direct access to the Kobo Bookstore via Wi-Fi connection
• Deactivation of the following features related to the Reader Store:
  • Facebook sharing
  • Bookmark and reading position synchronization
  • Markings and annotations synchronization
• Removal of the ‘More Content’ page

Full access to the Kobo eBook Store may require account registration.”

Once the update is complete, you need to log in with your Kobo account to access the bookstore, which is presented in Kobo’s typically minimalist design.

Likely Little Joy for Previous Sony Partners

For customers, the Kobo migration is quite a practical solution as it still allows them to download eBooks purchased from Sony. However, there is the question of how large the share of Sony eBook buyers really is since Sony started with the Reader Store very late; the user numbers were probably always fairly limited. Most people likely used the eBook.de shop or other partner stores, which remain unaffected by the closure of the Reader Store and are still accessible.

Of course, the question arises about how much existing Sony partners (such as Libri) are pleased with this change. Kobo is still a competitor that does not cooperate with bookstores. When Sony announced plans to set up its eBook Store, there was significant criticism from booksellers who feared the electronics giant could take customers away from them. Nevertheless, Sony cooperated to some extent by allowing other stores, likely with the thought in mind that it would otherwise disappear completely if they could not offer devices through the booksellers.

June 15, 2014: Sony Reader Store Closes Tomorrow, June 16, 2014

After the Sony Reader Store closed in North America back in March, the remaining eBook shops of the Japanese electronics giant in other parts of the world will follow suit starting tomorrow, as announced. Only in its home market of Japan does Sony continue its eBook business.

On June 16 at 3 PM, Sony will shut down the remaining Reader Stores. Customers will not be left hanging in the air but will be transferred to Kobo. The Japanese-Canadian eBook specialist will take over Sony’s eBook business, benefiting not only from Sony’s eBook reader customers but also from their tablet and smartphone users, as the Kobo App will be pre-installed on new Xperia devices.

If customers are not interested in having their data transferred to Kobo and their library moved, they must use an opt-out form to object to the transfer. Sony will provide Kobo with the name, email address, and details of the purchased eBooks. The address and credit card information will not be shared with Kobo.

Further Collaboration with Kobo?

The future of Sony’s eBook Reader hardware remains uncertain. In the last three generations (PRS-T1, T2, T3), the Japanese have made only minor changes to the eReaders and have gradually lost the lead over competitors. This ultimately led Sony not to offer the PRS-T3 in North America. However, this does not necessarily mean that Sony generally intends not to offer reading devices in the future, as they had partially withdrawn from the US smartphone and tablet market in the past.

Sony Reader owners who purchased their devices in Germany don’t need to worry too much about the functionality of the device or purchasing eBooks. Most of the PRS-T2 and PRS-T3 models were likely distributed by eBook.de, a Libri subsidiary, and their shop offering remains unaffected by the closure of the Reader Store. It remains uncertain, though, how well the redirection to Kobo will be received, especially given that Libri and its partners can boast a more extensive German eBook offering.

I am certainly curious whether the collaboration between Sony and Kobo extends beyond eBook offerings and software, and whether the two companies are perhaps working on a joint eBook reader. Kobo needs to release a new reading device in the fall (and didn’t achieve the hoped-for success with the Kobo Aura), and Sony possesses the longstanding expertise necessary to produce quality reading devices.

May 8, 2014: Sony Closes All eBook Stores, Kobo Takes Over

Sony is a pioneer in the eBook Reader market: the first dedicated reading device with an E-Ink display came from the Japanese. But the trailblazer of eBook readers has come under increasing pressure in recent years, not just regarding digital books but generally. The company reported a loss of almost 1 billion euros in the last fiscal year.

This does not remain without consequences for the eBook market. As already in the USA and Canada, Sony is also closing Reader Stores in Germany, Austria, the UK, and Australia. Until June 16, Sony customers can still purchase from the Japanese eBook store, after which it will be closed. Customers will, as in North America, be transferred to Kobo. Sony announced this on specially set-up help pages on the respective country homepage.

In the German explanation, it states: “Although we are sad to say goodbye to the Reader Store, we are happy to share the exciting news: Reader Store will migrate its customers to Kobo – a renowned e-book shop with passionate readers. We are confident that this change will allow you to continue experiencing e-reading at the highest level.”

Sony’s statement on the closure

If these news are not as exciting to some as they are to Sony and they don’t want their data transferred to Kobo, they can indicate this in an opt-out form to prevent the transfer.

However, this might not even be necessary for many German Sony eBook reader owners, as the main distribution of the devices in this country took place via eBook.de. An independent eBook shop from Sony that is not affected by the closure is used there. If you have purchased from eBook.de so far, you can continue to do so. In this case, no data is transferred (i.e., if you have not registered with Sony).

It’s somewhat unfortunate that, in Germany and Austria, Kobo is taking over instead of negotiating a separate deal with Libri. After all, the major bookseller is active in the end-consumer market with eBook.de and is an important Sony partner. However, the Kobo deal appears to have been made across countries.

Unlikely That There Will Be a Sony PRS-T4

Is the PRS-T3 the last eBook reader from Sony?

Now, the question inevitably arises whether Sony is pulling out of the eBook market for good. While the closure of the shop in the USA can be explained by the extremely low demand for Sony Readers, Sony’s market share in Europe is significantly larger. The step to close the eBook stores, which were originally launched with considerable delay, indicates that Sony is no longer interested in bringing its own reading device to market globally. Whether Sony only manufactures a reader device for its distribution partners (such as Libri/eBook.de) is questionable.

The prospect of a Sony PRS-T4 now seems much less likely. However, there is still a small chance that Sony and Kobo are not only cooperating on eBook shops but also in developing a new reading device. Sony has significantly more experience and could support Kobo in the battle for further market share with the appropriate hardware expertise. Such a reading device could then be marketed under both Sony and Kobo labels.

By the months of August to October, we will see how things develop. Traditionally, the new product generations are presented during this time—both by Sony and Kobo. It would be unfortunate if the Sony PRS-T3 were the last eBook reader from the Japanese for the consumer market, but it would not be surprising. Since the PRS-T1, Sony has only made minor improvements to both software and hardware, allowing competitors to catch up or even surpass it in many areas.

• Sony help page about the closure on June 16 (The page is no longer available as of August 2018)

March 22, 2014: Sony eBook Store in the USA Closed

As mentioned in the previous September announcement that the Sony PRS-T3 would not appear in North America, there was already speculation that the Japanese electronics company would soon withdraw from the eBook market in the USA and Canada.

In February 2014, Sony finally came clean and announced the closure of its own eBook Store in the USA and Canada. Initially, this was to take place on March 20. And as announced, it has happened: The Sony eBook Store in North America has been shut down. When visiting the homepage, you only see the notice shown above. Sony customers can log into their accounts and download their purchased eBooks until April 30. At the end of March, an email will also be sent explaining how the transfer to Kobo will proceed.

What’s Next?

Is the Sony DPT-S1 a sign that the company will continue its eBook reader business?

By closing the US store, Sony has sent a clear signal: It will no longer invest in lost markets. In the USA, Sony lost the eBook business early in the growth phase to Amazon and Barnes & Noble. For the last 2 to 3 years, it was essentially just a silent market participant without any significant presence.

This inevitably raises the question of how the Sony Reader program will continue elsewhere. Here, Sony remains a popular hardware manufacturer, particularly because it can defend its market position with various distribution partnerships. Over the past two Christmas seasons, Tchibo and Libri offered the current Sony eBook reader models at promotional sales to a large audience at affordable prices.

But even if they achieved reasonable sales figures during Christmas here, you cannot ignore that Sony has neglected the further development of the eBook readers over the past 3 years. Whether Sony will finally upgrade the next generation of devices significantly or if there will be a new device remains open.

The fact that Sony actively participated in the development of E-Ink Mobius technology with the 13.3-inch tablet eReader DPT-S1 indicates that the Japanese do not want to turn their back on the eBook reader market.

February 6, 2014: Kobo and Sony Partner in the USA

Last fall, Sony announced its exit from the eBook reader market in the USA and Canada. As a direct consequence, the Sony PRS-T3 did not appear there, and sales of the PRS-T2 were canceled during the year.

At that time, it was unclear how Sony’s eBook offerings in the USA would continue. Today, the question about Sony’s continued presence in the US eBook market is answered: no less than Canadian-Japanese eBook specialist Kobo will oversee the digital book distribution for the Japanese electronics giant in the future.

Kobo Takes Over Sony’s eBook Business

Sony eBook readers and Android apps (for tablets and smartphones) will be supplied with eBooks by Kobo in the future. Existing customer libraries can be transferred to Kobo in March. Customers, however, must initiate the switch themselves. Details on the transfer procedure will be communicated to customers in an email. Once the operator-side migration is complete, Sony’s eBook Store in the USA will close on March 20, 2014.

“Kobo offers the ideal solution for our customers and delivers robust and comprehensive user experiences. Like Sony, they are committed to the most passionate readers and share our vision for using open formats to allow reading anywhere, anytime,” said Sony. “Our customers can be assured that the transition to the Kobo ecosystem will be seamless and that they can continue using and reading their favorite titles on their Sony devices.”

The free Kobo App for Android will be pre-installed on Sony tablets and smartphones in the future.

Will Collaboration Be Expanded?

With this deal, Kobo hit a home run as it has gained a strong international partner that can offer the Kobo app to a large audience outside the eBook market. Particularly in the smartphone market, Sony has gained significant ground in the past months. However, the partnership also indicates that Sony might no longer be interested in investing time and money in lost markets.

However, this currently has no effects in Europe, as in this region, Sony continues to be successful with the PRS-T3 and distribution partnerships. Nonetheless, a collaboration with Kobo outside the United States is also conceivable. The two Japanese companies (Kobo owner Rakuten and Sony) could also unite their core competencies in other international markets, driving growth without investing unnecessary money.

A partnership in developing eBook readers could also be considered. In recent years, Sony has hardly improved its reader lineup, and there has already been speculation that Sony might soon exit the eReader market altogether. A collaboration with Kobo would benefit both companies and ensure the release of further Sony eBook readers in the future.

December 12, 2012: Sony Reader Store Finally Launches in Germany

I can hardly believe it and had to rub my eyes several times. I even postponed this news article from yesterday to today because I almost believed it was a mistake. But no! The Sony Reader Store has opened its doors!

That’s right: Sony’s eBook Store, initially announced a year ago at IFA for the arrival of the Sony PRS-T1, has finally made its way to Germany (and Austria?). But as the saying goes: better late than never.

In its press release, Sony states that “several hundred thousand titles are available in EPUB format.” This, however, pertains to the entire catalog, not the German-language part. The store currently contains significantly fewer German-language works than its competitors, which is quite surprising given the extremely late market entry.

Overall, I found 60,066 German-language eBooks. For comparison: Amazon offers over twice as many with 135,267 German-language eBooks; (Amazon had only 25,000 German-language titles available when the Kindle Store launched in Germany). While the offering will undoubtedly be expanded, the range remains relatively small despite the long delay. Nevertheless, Sony emphasizes its focus on quality in eBook selection, assuring: “The collection includes all fiction and nonfiction titles available as eBooks from the current Spiegel Bestseller List”. Thus, owners of the Sony PRS-T1 and PRS-T2 have something to be happy about. If you want to quickly and conveniently purchase one of the current Spiegel bestsellers, you can do so in the Sony Store, but if the desired less-current eBook is not there, you can still turn to another shop, like eBook.de. The purchase process is not much more complicated.

Nevertheless, the Sony Reader Store does not yet appear to be functioning flawlessly. During my brief test, an eBook mistakenly listed at 0 euros could not be downloaded due to an error message.

Here’s how the Reader Store looks on the Sony PRS-T2:

The future distribution of Sony devices will be interesting. Sony partners with their own eBook platform may not be too pleased with the move. It remains to be seen whether this will affect Sony PRS-T2 sales or other future Sony eBook readers. Thalia has already dropped out this year, focusing on its exclusive distribution of Bookeen Cybook readers.

Despite the long lead time and the year-long delay, the eBook offering from the Sony Reader Store remains relatively modest, with some minor bugs apparent. We’ll see if and when Sony can improve here. Hopefully, it won’t take another year. It’s also still unclear whether the Austrian Reader Store will launch soon. Although Austrians can access the German Store, they cannot make any purchases.

December 19, 2012: Sony Reader Store Now Also Available in Austria

A few days ago, we reported that Sony finally launched its long-awaited and delayed eBook Store, but it was initially only in Germany. With an additional week’s delay, the Austrian branch of the Sony Reader Store, which looks identical to the German version, has now also opened.

You can no longer access the German Sony Store—both the German and Austrian shops are no longer available (Update: August 2018).

The big advantage of this opening is not the potential eBook purchase on a PC but directly on Sony eBook readers.

Once the device’s regional settings have been correctly set, you can now buy eBooks directly on the Sony PRS-T1 and the new Sony PRS-T2. Simply call up the previously empty “Reader Store” link on the homepage, and a specially adapted mobile version of the eBook shop will open.

Sony’s solution, however, is not its own shop system but a white-label shop by Txtr. Thus, the shop is not operated by Sony itself. For the end customer, however, this doesn’t really matter.

In a quick check at the time of the German store’s launch, I found a total of 60,066 German-language eBooks. For comparison: Amazon offers more than twice as many with 135,267 German-language eBooks. However, Sony promises that all current Spiegel fiction and non-fiction bestsellers available as eBooks are in the store. That’s not a given.

The Sony PRS-T2 has now become slightly more attractive with the Reader Store’s launch, as eBooks can finally be purchased just as conveniently on the Sony device as with competitors. The Sony PRS-T2 is currently available for 119 euros (with a voucher) and includes four eBooks at eBook.de. And here’s how the Sony Store looks on the PRS-T1/T2:

November 25, 2012: Sony PRS-T2 Competing with the Illuminated Rest; Reader Store Imminent?

You almost don’t want to believe it, but you can still hope. The Sony eBook Store was supposed to launch last year, but after several delays, it still isn’t available in the German-speaking market. A placeholder link leading to a page is still on the PRS-T2.

At least the thing about the placeholder page seems to be less accurate now, as my (rooted) Sony PRS-T2 now shows only an empty page when I start the Reader Store, could this mean that the Reader Store is about to launch?

The question remains whether one should even buy such a “half-finished” product. I don’t really expect the Reader Store to open anymore, but personally, I no longer find it necessary. While a directly integrated shop is practical, Libri’s restart as eBook.de now offers a reasonably accessible mobile eBook store that’s hardly inferior. I have described how to buy eBooks there in a detailed step-by-step guide here.

Thus, the answer to whether you can buy the device this way is a clear “yes”. Especially since the PRS-T2 is still on sale at eBook.de for 99 euros (instead of 139 euros). The answer remains even when comparing the PRS-T2 with the three illuminated eBook reader models (Kindle Paperwhite, Bookeen HD Frontlight, Kobo Glo) since all three devices have their small flaws, which you might have to weigh and possibly overlook when purchasing. Thanks to possible root access, the PRS-T2 is one of the best all-rounders, which can be wonderfully expanded with Android apps and offers excellent readability even without integrated lighting, thanks to a very good eInk Pearl display with a measured contrast ratio of 13:1.

If you can do without integrated lighting, you can buy the Sony PRS-T2 with a clear conscience for 99 euros. You can find an extensive test report here. If you don’t want to do without a built-in reading light, you should wait for the upcoming test reports and comparison tests of and between Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, Bookeen HD Frontlight (Thalia), and Kobo Glo, which we will publish here in the coming weeks. Perhaps by then, the Sony Reader Store will have already opened…

July 6, 2012: Sony PRS-T2 Stops by the FCC; Where Is the eBook Store?

A few months ago, we wondered why Sony reduced their offered eBook Readers to just one model with the PRS-T1. Up to that point, there were often two to four different devices in various markets, and business in Europe has certainly picked up since then, so a larger range of models with increasing competition wouldn’t be a mistake. The one-model policy might be changing, as the PRS-T2, a new eBook reader model from Sony, has appeared at the American telecoms regulator FCC.

Little is known about the specifications, allowing for speculation, as few details are available about the new device. It will again be equipped with Wi-Fi, but not with 3G or Bluetooth. It also seems to adopt the design of the Sony PRS-T1. Memory card expansion via MicroSD should also be included.

The PRS-T2 might even be the successor to the PRS-T1, which is soon celebrating its one-year anniversary. If that’s the case, I would expect a non-glossy plastic surface this time, as well as a higher-resolution eInk display (XGA) with built-in lighting. However, the software is unlikely to change much. If it is indeed the successor to the PRS-T1, we can probably expect an unveiling at the IFA—in about 56 days.

In the meantime, it’s baffling that the German-language eBook Store is still not available. The placeholder page, however, has been adjusted again. Instead of being able to enter your email to be notified when the store launches, you are now reassured with the following text: “Unfortunately, there’s no Reader Store available for your country yet. For information on how to obtain e-books for your reader, please visit the internet with your computer: Germany: www.sony.de/reader; Austria: www.sony.at/reader.” This may well be the most ill-fated eBook Store launch in history…

April 17, 2012: Sony eBook Store Opens in the UK; Will the Rest of Europe Follow Soon?

The Sony PRS-T1 has been on the local market since last autumn. It is the first eBook reader from Sony to appear in Europe with Wi-Fi. Aside from fast access to Google, Wikipedia, and the rest of the internet via an excellent internet browser, wireless access should also lead directly to an eBook shop on the device.

But so far, pressing the store button on the reader has been in vain, only leading to a “Coming Soon” page. It was initially supposed to launch by the end of 2011, but the launch was then pushed to spring 2012. Until yesterday, there was still no sign of the German-language eBook Store, but now there’s finally hope: The British Sony Store has opened its doors. This is Sony’s first European eBook store, and we can hope that the rest of Europe will soon follow suit.

Meanwhile, the placeholder page on the reader has changed slightly. Recently, you could leave your email address to be informed of the opening. After half a year of waiting, maybe it’s really about to happen…

December 2, 2011: Where’s the German-Language eBook Store? 2012?

While the Sony PRS-T1 didn’t bring groundbreaking innovations compared to its predecessor, the eReader now has a wireless network connection (Wi-Fi), unlike previous Sony models available in Germany. This allows you to directly access the integrated shop through the eBook reader, significantly enhancing the shopping and usage experience and serving as a major selling point against the Kindle competition. However, there’s one catch: This is all still theoretical. Although the PRS-T1 has been on the German-speaking market for a while, Sony has yet to deliver the promised eBook store opening.

When the PRS-T1 was presented at IFA 2011 at the end of August, it was announced that the store’s launch would occur later in 2011. The indications of the launch have since disappeared, and time is running out. This does not exactly inspire confidence that the opening will happen as promised.

According to new rumors, the store’s launch has been postponed to the beginning of 2012. However, Germany and Austria aren’t the only ones awaiting their localized eBook shops; the UK launch has also been delayed. There, the store was supposed to be available right at the market launch of the Sony PRS-T1, but UK customers are also only greeted with a Coming-Soon image.

Fortunately, as is typical with ePub readers, you can still fill the PRS-T1 with external content and thus use it for reading. Moreover, books can also be purchased and downloaded directly on the PRS-T1 via the internet browser. This isn’t as comfortable as a specially adapted store but better than nothing. If this is too cumbersome, you can still purchase through your PC.

Still, it’s high time Sony took decisive action and at least announced a more precise date for the shop’s launch, don’t you think?

A Year’s Delay and the End Two Years Later

Update: After a delay of one year, Sony did open the eBook shop after all. In December 2012, the localized store was launched and was directly accessible on the PRS-T1 and the subsequently released PRS-T2 (!). Why the launch was delayed for so long is completely unclear, especially since, unlike in the USA, Sony does not operate the website itself but uses a white-label solution from Berlin-based eBook specialist Txtr.

But in the end, the shop’s launch came far too late, as the PRS-T2 was already being offered at eBook.de (formerly Libri.de) with their own shop solution, so there was no particular incentive or reason for the vast majority of buyers to use the Sony store anymore.

This was likely the case in other countries too, as Sony’s attempts in the digital book market ultimately failed, leading to the closure of all national stores by mid-2014. Nevertheless, customers were not left out in the cold since the Japanese-Canadian company Kobo took over their customer base.