Share your story with Kobo's Reading Life app for Facebook Timeline

Kobo Users Can Share their Reading Life with Friends on the New App for Facebook Timeline

TORONTO, Jan. 18, 2012 /CNW/ - Kobo, a global leader in eReading with over 7 million users in over 170 countries worldwide, today announced the integration of Reading Life on the Kobo iOS eReading app with Facebook Timeline; elevating the traditionally solitary pastime of reading into a more dynamic activity to be shared with friends online.

Kobo is proud to be one of a select few kicking off the launch of apps for Facebook Timeline; apps that allow users to bring their timelines to life through sharing what they're doing, music they are listening to, books they are reading, and more.

Starting today, people on Facebook can download the Kobo iOS app, and add Kobo Reading Life to their timeline.  With Kobo Reading Life they can share their latest eBook activity with friends, from showing off their current read to staying atop of the hottest eBooks. Building upon the free downloadable Reading Life app launched in 2010, this new Reading Life feature for timeline adds a new dimension in Kobo's commitment to making reading a more engaging social experience.

"We know that readers have always loved sharing their experience with books, but organizing a book club isn't always feasible in our fast-paced, digital world," says Dan Liebu, Kobo Inc.'s Chief Technology Officer. "With the rise of social media and the growing popularity of apps, reading doesn't have to be done alone - it's something that can be shared with friends."

"Reading Life for Facebook Timeline gives you a way to let others know what's in your library while moving beyond simply sharing titles; this app is about sharing Kobo reading experiences in a fun and exciting way."

The new app allows people to post every aspect of their reading experience: from reviewing and recommending eBooks, to sharing passages and keeping tabs on what friends are reading. People can also earn fun badges for hundreds of reading activities, like the Papillion (for extreme social sharers), the Twain (for daily readers), and the Witching Hour (for readers who read into the wee hours of the night).

The Reading Life app for Facebook Timeline builds on Kobo's 'Read Freely' philosophy, which seeks to provide the ultimate reading experience any time, any place by giving consumers the freedom to read any book on any device - and to be able to get more from their reading experience.

"Reading Life for Facebook Timeline is a celebration of reading, where it's not just about individual books but rather a way to share you reading life with friend everywhere," says Liebu. "Reading often plays a key role in all our lives - whether temporarily transporting us away from reality or bringing an important issue front and centre. This app encourages discussion around reading, which really is embedded into our social fabric."

The Reading Life application is available for the Kobo iPhone and iPad App and will soon be available on other Kobo platforms… For more information, visit www.kobo.com/readinglife. To download the apps visit: For iPhone: www.kobo.com/iPhone, and for iPad: www.kobo.com/iPad.

About Kobo Inc.
Kobo is a global eReading service with more than 2.5 million eBooks, magazines and newspapers - one of the largest eReading catalogues in the world.  As part of its "Read Freely" mentality, Kobo believes consumers should have the freedom to read any book on any device and has attracted millions of readers from more than 100 countries across the globe.  Kobo has top-ranked eReading applications for iPad, iPhone, BlackBerry, Android, Windows and MacOS, and is the eReading application of choice for leading tablet OEMs.  Kobo eReaders, including the Kobo Touch and the newly launched Kobo Vox are available at leading retailers, including Indigo, Walmart, Best Buy, Target, Future Shop, WHSmith, FNAC, Collins Booksellers and Whitcoull's.  Kobo's innovative Reading Life is an industry-first comprehensive social eReading experience where Kobo users can earn awards simply for time spent reading and encouraging others.  For more information on Kobo, and to download free eReading apps, visit www.kobo.com.

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Karina St. Jean | Carol Lee
Rogers & Cowan
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