Contact Information: Media Contact: David Burleigh Director of Marketing OverDrive, Inc. 216-573-6886 Ext 218
OverDrive Powers Digital Audiobook Service for Borders(R)
Borders Digital Audiobook Service Is First of Its Kind Offered in a Physical Retail Environment in the U.S.
| Source: OverDrive, Inc.
CLEVELAND, OH--(Marketwire - March 10, 2008) - OverDrive (www.overdrive.com), the leading
eBook and digital audiobook distributor to retailers, libraries, and
schools, announced today that it is providing both inventory and the
underlying technology for the new download audiobook service officially
unveiled this month in Borders' new concept store located in Ann Arbor,
Mich. The Borders Digital Audiobook Service is the first download service
of its kind launched in a physical retail environment in the U.S. More
than 15,000 audiobook titles are currently available for downloading in the
Digital Center located within the retailer's concept store as well as in
its Novi superstore (where the service was beta-tested in 2007), and online
at http://audiobooks.bordersstores.com. The service will be rolled out in
13 additional concept stores that Borders plans to open in 2008 as well as
in select superstores nationwide.
"Borders is redefining the retail experience for booklovers with their
digital services," said Steve Potash, president and CEO of OverDrive.
"We're proud to team with this industry leader to provide both in-store and
online access to thousands of best-selling and award-winning titles."
Customers can browse the audiobook catalog and download audiobooks to MP3
players at several kiosks in the concept store and Novi superstore. Each
kiosk supplies headphones and instant access to audio excerpts from the
entire digital audiobook catalog. Trained Digital Center staff are on hand
to answer questions and assist customers with the downloading process.
"We are thrilled to work with OverDrive to provide this digital service to
our customers," said Borders Director of Digital Business Dylan Barrell.
"They delivered an easy-to-use service with a wide variety of audiobooks,
from award-winning popular fiction to business, self-help, foreign language
learning, and children's under an extremely tight deadline. Hundreds of new
titles are added to the Borders' Digital Audiobook catalog each month so
customers always have access to a rich inventory of selections. The
download service is a great complement to the other services we provide in
our Digital Centers."
The Borders Digital Audiobook Service utilizes OverDrive's leading download
technology and inventory services, which currently enables more than 7,500
libraries, schools, and retailers in the U.S. and abroad. The customized
download website fully integrates into the digital kiosks in the Digital
Centers and will be integrated into Borders' new proprietary e-commerce
site (www.borders.com) when it launches during this fiscal quarter.
OverDrive powers download media catalogs at thousands of libraries
worldwide, including lending institutions in New York, Singapore, Boston,
and Toronto. The company also provides digital download distribution for
hundreds of publishers including Random House, HarperCollins, and
Harlequin, delivers e-retail solutions to hundreds of college bookstores
and other online retailers, and is a strategic partner to Microsoft, Adobe
Systems, Inc., Mobipocket, and other leading technology firms.
To purchase audiobooks online via Borders online store, visit
http://audiobooks.borders.com/.
About OverDrive
OverDrive is a leading full-service digital distributor and supplier of
eBooks, audio books, music, and video. We deliver secure management, DRM
protection, and download fulfillment services for hundreds of publishers
and institutions (rights holders) and thousands of libraries, schools,
retailers, and aggregators serving millions of end users. Founded in 1986,
OverDrive is based in Cleveland, OH. www.overdrive.com