Publishers in race to match Google

Major publishers are racing ahead with their alternative offerings to Google Book Search.

Harper Collins has announced a developer deal with Newsstand, an online newspaper and magazine distributor, while Macmillan has a prototype of its BookStore platform up and running.

Jayne Marks, MD of Macmillan division MPS Technologies , which is developing BookStore in India, said general reference and academic book publishers are showing the most interest in the platform, and that works are already being digitised.

MPS will be demonstrating its prototype within months as the publishing sector catches up with the information professionals in the adoption of online technology ( click here for MPS blog entry).

Richard Charkin, chief executive of Macmillan, told IWR when launching BookStore: “Publishers have to get their act together with the entry of Yahoo and Microsoft into the arena alongside Amazon and Google.”

Charkin has also called for a set of common standards between providers of online books. Marks said there has been discussion on standards within the industry, but no decisions will arise until the platforms become “concrete” ( click here for more related news).