Osiander-Reader: PocketBook Touch Lux Gains New Branding and Enhanced Features
After the failure of the negotiations with the Tolino Alliance, the book trade seems to be increasingly looking for new eBook reader alternatives. Currently, they are particularly finding options with Sony and PocketBook. Just a few days ago, the PocketBook Touch Lux launched under the label of the Mayersche Bookstore, and now Osiandersche Bookstore is taking a very similar path.
The PocketBook Touch Lux is now being sold as the Osiander-Reader, albeit without hardware branding. Instead, the bookstore is focusing on better shop integration, as “Osiander-Sync” allows the eBooks purchased in the shop to be synchronized with the eBook reader.
The Touch Lux is not unfamiliar at Osiander, as the device has already been sold there in recent months. Nevertheless, the shift to re-labeling it as the Osiander-Reader is quite interesting and indicates that the book trade wants to (and will) increasingly rely on its own solutions.
PocketBook on the fast track
PocketBook, in particular, can be pleased with the newly gained attention. Even though Osiander isn’t among the largest bookstore chains, it boasts a respectable number of branches with 24 bookstores in Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Bavaria. Adding the 50 branches of the Mayersche Bookstore in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate to this, PocketBook definitely possesses a densely integrated book retail network in part of Western Germany. One should also not forget the smaller booksellers who source the PocketBook Touch Lux through Umbreit and thus can also offer it.
The separate PocketBook collaborations of Osiander and Mayersche could prove equally beneficial for both. The eBook reader manufacturer has made a name for itself among those less interested in tech, which, of course, enhances its marketability in the long run. It is quite possible that more booksellers might jump on the PocketBook bandwagon in the future.
The only potential obstacle could be the price of the PocketBook Touch Lux, as it is priced at 139 euros, making it not only 10 euros more expensive than the Kindle Paperwhite, but a full 40 euros more than the Tolino Shine, which is sold at Thalia, Weltbild, and Hugendubel. However, this remains the only notable criticism. We certainly await with interest to see how well the offering will be received by the customers.
