Chat app takes on ebook retailers, Amazon with manga comics service

Line, the popular messaging platform based in Japan, is challenging ebook vendors like Amazon and Rakuten with a new service to download and view manga, or Japanese comic books. The company has launched "Line Manga," a mobile app for Android and iOS phones. Line's initial offering consists of 30,000 manga titles, making it one of the largest online comic stores in Japan. Manga are extremely popular in Japan with men and women across a wide range of ages and consumer groups. They are seen as a key part of the fledgling ebook market in Japan—Amazon's long-awaited launch in the country included 15,000 manga, just under a third of its total library. Rivals include Rakuten and Sony, services run by Japan's mobile operators, and a host of third-party apps. Line can leverage its vast and growing user base in Japan, where it has become the default chat app for many users. The company has built a growing suite of services around chat, including online games and a camera app. To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here Continue reading at 'PC World'

[ PC World | 2013-04-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #wide range #consumer groups #key part #third-party apps #growing suite

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Chat app takes on ebook retailers, Amazon with manga comics service'


Amazon Expected to Cut Kindle Fire Orders in Half as New iPad Looms

Sources from Amazon's supply chain in the Far East indicated to DigiTimes that Kindle Fire orders with original device manufacturers are expected to be just 3 million units this quarter. That's half the 6 million units Amazon reportedly shipp ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2012-01-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #supply chain


Apple launches self-publishing app, partners with textbook publishers

Apple has announced a new multimedia app called iBooks Author, allowing writers to create their... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-01-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #textbook publishers #allowing writers


New York Post Launches New Kindle Fire App

Add the New York Post to the growing list of publications that are releasing apps optimized for the Kindle Fire and in this case, other seven-inch Android tablets too. “This app adds to our array of critically-acclaimed and successful app ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2012-01-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #york post #growing list #kindle fire


Bloomsbury ebook sales up nearly 40% in final quarter of 2011

Bloomsbury had a "strong" final three months of 2011, with ebook sales growing "... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-01-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #final quarter


Magazines and Newspapers Need to Build Better Apps

While it is still early in the migration process, Apple's iPad and other tablets appear to be a very good thing for the publishing industry, allowing publishers to monetize their content while avoiding the printing and distribution costs associat ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2012-01-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #good thing #publishing industry #allowing publishers


German book retailer to restructure to face digital challenge

The earnings of German book retailer Thalia's parent group Douglas Holding will be hit by the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-01-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Carlton releases Olympic ebooks

Carlton Books has today (11th January) released the first ebook editions of its Olympic... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-01-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #carlton books #ebook editions


US book sales hold up, despite Borders collapse and ebook growth

Print books sales in the US fell 9% in 2011, with strong growth in digital sales appearing to... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-01-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #borders collapse #ebook growth #strong growth


December retail sales up 4.1%

Print book sales have “remained tough”, hit by consumer caution and growing ebook... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-01-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #growing ebook


Kobo ebook sales increase seven-fold in December

Daily Kobo ebook sales in the UK increased seven times in December as the company revealed one... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-01-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #company revealed


Cuts to hit Liverpool library services

Liverpool is the latest city to suffer library cuts as the council announced three locations will... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-01-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #latest city #council announced


Barnes & Noble shares under pressure as company explores Nook ebook business options

Barnes & Noble shares under pressure as company explores Nook ebook business options Continue reading at MarketWatch.com

[ MarketWatch.com | 2012-01-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Hachette reports a 'blockbuster' Christmas for ebook sales

Hachette has reported a "blockbuster Christmas for ebooks", selling more than 100,000... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-01-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hachette reports #ebook sales


App download surge on Christmas Day

The number of apps downloaded on Google and Apple surged 125% worldwide to 242m on Christmas Day... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-12-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #christmas day


HC US sues over Open Road ebook

HarperCollins US is suing digital publisher Open Road for copyright infringement after it... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-12-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #copyright infringement


Chinese e-tailer Dangdang launches ebook platform

China's biggest online book retailer Dangdang has launched its ebook platform in China, with... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-12-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook platform


UK government holds firm on ebook VAT

The UK government has reiterated its view that it cannot bring down value added tax on ebooks... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-12-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook vat #uk government


'Confessions' is ebook of the year

The Friday Project's Confessions of a GP has been crowned the top-selling UK ebook of the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-12-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #friday project


Pan Mac launches ebook bundles

Pan Macmillan has launched its first ebook bundles, collections of two or three titles in a... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-12-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #pan macmillan


Gallimard reduces ebook prices

Gallimard reduced the prices of its 1,500 ebooks on Monday (19th December), two weeks ahead of... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-12-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #weeks ahead