CLEVELAND, OH--(Marketwire - February 22, 2010) - OverDrive (www.overdrive.com), the leading global distributor of eBooks and audiobooks for libraries and retailers, announced today new services that will significantly expand its digital distribution network for copyrighted digital media. New digital book formats, streaming content services, and title discovery and fulfillment enhancements will be available in 2010, which will help OverDrive's publishing partners, retailers, and libraries capitalize on accelerating market demand. During 2009, OverDrive achieved its fifth consecutive year of double digit growth and profitability by adding hundreds of retail, library, corporate, and school outlets for more than 1,000 publishers' copyrighted eBooks, audiobooks, music and video in more than a dozen countries. Building on this momentum, OverDrive will introduce new services for 2010, including:
- Content Reserve® Plus: OverDrive's global distribution platform will integrate third party digital catalogs to add their eBooks, databases, music, video, and enhanced multimedia content to OverDrive's network of retail and institutional accounts. In March, OverDrive will demonstrate interactive educational eBook products including "read aloud" features and DRM-free eBooks in "Open EPUB" and "Open PDF" formats at the Public Library Association National Conference in Portland, Oregon. OverDrive is now in negotiation with rights holders of databases, periodicals, newspapers, music by the track, HD and mobile streaming video, and reader apps to add their content to OverDrive's current catalog of over 450,000 copyrighted digital titles.
- OverDrive Catalog Apps: OverDrive catalog apps, REST APIs, web services, RSS and other tools utilizing XML and open standards will enable mobile app developers and wireless devices to directly manage eBookselling, catalog access, discovery, and eCommerce support for customers of digital books directly from OverDrive-powered retail eBookstores, library catalogs, and other digital collections.
- OverDrive MIDAS® 2.0 and eBook Category & Customer Management (ECCM): OverDrive's eCommerce bookstore platform, MIDAS, is enhancing its subscription and continuity sales services to include eBook Clubs, metered content sales, and new customer retention and loyalty programs, for its multi-national, multi-language, and multi-currency platform. OverDrive MIDAS powers digital book services for Borders.com, WHSmith.co.uk, eHarlequin.com, ReadWithoutPaper.com and others. OverDrive will offer ECCM to provide merchandising and competitive retail services for device manufacturers, app developers, and non-traditional booksellers. OverDrive ECCM includes customized newsletters, promotional offers, coupon and discount campaigns. OverDrive ECCM leverages OverDrive's aggregated digital book sales, usage, search data and analytics from millions of transactions and nearly 1 billion title views to develop campaigns and strategies for retail, device, and channel partners.
- OverDrive Reciprocal®: OverDrive's consolidated bookshelf service will provide readers a single location for access, preferences, permission-based contact from publishers and authors across numerous eBook formats, audiobooks, interactive titles, subscriptions, and suppliers of premium media. Reciprocal will provide single sign-on (SSO) eCommerce and membership card support to dozens of eBookstores, libraries, and user accounts. As a certified Payment Card International (PCI) Level 1 compliant service center, OverDrive will provide SSO for multiple credit card or debit payment methods from a single bookshelf and their OverDrive Reciprocal Dashboard.
- OverDrive First Gear™: Enhanced DRM-free eBook and audiobook excerpts for streaming or offline reading with direct "buy-it-now" options and coupons dynamically customized into each title. First Gear will also be able to connect readers with retailers, publisher and author websites, and fan communities.
- OverDrive Dashboard™: A series of desktop and mobile apps that provide publishers, booksellers, librarians, and readers with valuable information -- instantly -- including real-time statistics and charts for their catalogs and collections. OverDrive Dashboard will provide all stakeholders the ability to analyze pertinent information and identify relevant trends, outlets, and suppliers, as well as highlight popular titles and author activities to manage and optimize their digital business and collections.
- OverDrive Digital Kiosk & Library eBook Devices: OverDrive will release the next version of its OverDrive Download Station™ software, which provides direct access to eBooks and other popular media inside hundreds of schools and libraries. OverDrive is also working with several PC, Tablet, Netbook, and eReader device manufacturers who will introduce products specifically designed for use in schools, libraries, and institutions to access OverDrive catalogs of eBooks, audiobooks, music, video and enhanced content.
For more than ten years, OverDrive has proudly served as a trusted partner to the world's leading publishers, developing secure and reliable channels for their copyrighted titles and materials. OverDrive will showcase and demonstrate the 2010 service enhancements to our leading distribution, eCommerce, school, and library platforms at the London Book Fair, April 19-21; IDPF Digital Book 2010, May 25; and in the IDPF Digital Zone at Book Expo America, May 26-27, both in New York City.
OverDrive currently provides download services for more than 10,000 libraries, retailers, corporations, and schools worldwide with support for Windows® PC, Mac®, Sony® Reader™, nook™, Android™ devices, and BlackBerry® smartphones as well as the largest collection of iPod®-compatible audiobooks for libraries. To see if your public library is a member of the OverDrive network, visit http://search.overdrive.com. OverDrive also operates the Digital Bookmobile (www.digitalbookmobile.com), a high-tech 18-wheeler traveling North America on behalf of public libraries to raise awareness about free library downloads.
About OverDrive
OverDrive is a leading full-service digital distributor of eBooks, audiobooks, music, and video. We deliver secure management, DRM protection, and download fulfillment services for hundreds of publishers and thousands of libraries, schools, and retailers, serving millions of end users. OverDrive has been named to the EContent 100 as a company that matters most in the digital content industry. Founded in 1986, OverDrive is based in Cleveland, OH. www.overdrive.com
Contact Information:
Contact:
David Burleigh
OverDrive, Inc.
216-573-6886 x218