KOBO(TM) INTRODUCES NEW ENHANCEMENTS TO KOBO EREADING APPS FOR IPAD, IPHONE
AND TOUCH

Integrated Instapaper lets users surf the web and save to Kobo library

TORONTO, Dec. 17 /CNW/ - Kobo, the only global pure-play eReading service built on an open platform, today announced an update to its iOS4 software. The update introduces innovative new features for users on the Kobo iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch eReading apps enabling them to interact with books and easily share their love of reading.

The most significant feature being introduced in today's update is the integration of Instapaper into the Kobo eReading application, which is now available to sync and read with the Kobo eReading app across all Apple devices. Instapaper facilitates the easy reading of long text and lets users easily save articles and other types of web content to read later via their Kobo eReading application.

"People are constantly discovering a wide variety of great information on the web, but they don't always have the time to read everything that they come across," said Mike Serbinis, Kobo CEO. "With Kobo's integration with Instapaper, readers can clip, save, and read this content anytime, anyplace they choose using the Kobo eReading application for iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch."

As with books, magazines and newspapers in the Kobo Library, users can now sync Instapaper clippings on Kobo apps across all Apple devices.  Any content saved to Instapaper and stored in the Kobo Library will automatically update in the Instapaper feed.

With today's announcement, Kobo users will also be able to "Like" books and share what that they are reading with their friends on Facebook. Also newly introduced, iPhone and iPod Touch users can share favourite passages and notes from any book to Facebook.

New enhancements for Kobo iPad eReading App

Kobo recently launched Reading Life an industry first social eReading experience, which personalizes eReading and creates a fun, engaging way for users to enjoy an eBook. Reading Life displays statistics about a reader's  habits and preferences, shows activity timelines, and awards achievements for just simply reading. With this new Kobo iPad app release people will be able to interact with their Reading Life book cover and consumers using Instapaper are able to earn awards and monitor statistics.

Since the release of Reading Life in early December, users have earned a reward every five seconds and have shared over 1,000 experiences every day. Reading Life is currently available on the iPad and will launch on iPhone and all Kobo platforms in the coming months.

The Kobo iOS4 applications for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad all come preloaded with 5 FREE eBooks: Alice in Wonderland, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Dracula, The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, and Grimm's Fairy Tales - so users can begin eReading as soon as their download is done. Plus, just in time for the holidays, Reading Life has released a selection of limited edition Holiday badges that are attached to exclusive deep discounted holiday offers.

Today, Kobo has customers in over 200 countries & territories worldwide. The Kobo store offers one of the largest catalogue selections - with over 2.2 million eBooks. Titles range from the NYT bestseller list, the hottest new releases, thrillers, romance and more - plus access to the most popular newspapers and magazines, all of which start with a two week free trail.  Since its launch in 2009, Kobo has been dedicated to an open cloud-based platform, enabling users to read on any device, and with open standards that give users freedom to build their lifetime libraries as they choose.   Kobo users can download free eReading applications at www.kobo.com for most smartphones, netbooks, tablets, desktops and macs. 

About Kobo, Inc.

Kobo is a global eReading service backed by majority shareholder Indigo Books & Music, Borders Group, REDgroup Retail, and Cheung Kong Holdings. Kobo believes consumers should be able to read any book on any device. With a catalog of over two million eBooks, magazines, newspapers and an open platform, Kobo enables retailers, device manufacturers and mobile operators to bring the joy of eReading to customers everywhere. For more information, visit www.kobo.com. 

About Instapaper, LLC

Instapaper was founded in January, 2008 and became an instant hit for its simple, one-field registration form. When the App Store for the iPhone launched in July, 2008, the official Instapaper app was critically acclaimed and doubled Instapaper's userbase in its first month. In April 2010, the Instapaper app for iPad was available from the iPad's launch day and has been incredibly popular since. For more information, visit www.instapaper.com

For further information:

Angelika Rau
High Road Communications
[phone]
[email protected]