CLEVELAND, OH--(Marketwire - Mar 5, 2012) - OverDrive, Inc. (www.overdrive.com), the leading global distributor of eBooks and audiobooks, announced today it has acquired Australian eBook company Booki.sh (http://booki.sh). Booki.sh is the developer of a cloud-based platform for distributing, selling and reading popular eBooks from anywhere and on any device with a modern web browser. Booki.sh founders and principals Joseph Pearson, Virginia Murdoch and Peter Haasz will join OverDrive from their existing offices in Melbourne to expand the global distributor's publishing, library and school initiatives.
Booki.sh eBooks live "in the cloud," are browser-based and do not require the user to first install any software or app. This enables users with PC, Mac®, Linux®, iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ and many other mobile devices to instantly access protected titles for both online and offline use. To leverage the success of the Booki.sh browser-based platform, OverDrive will expand the Booki.sh distribution and digital bookstore platforms as well as integrate Booki.sh HTML5 and EPUB reading technologies into OverDrive library and school services.
"Joseph, Virginia and the Booki.sh team have created a fresh, direct and immersive reading experience that uniquely serves the mission of our libraries and schools," said Steve Potash, OverDrive CEO and President. "Their innovative technologies streamline the access and convenience of eBooks, which will help shape how millions of readers and students enjoy eBooks from OverDrive's network of thousands of libraries, schools and booksellers in over 20 countries."
"OverDrive has played a vital role throughout the emergence of digital reading," said Booki.sh co-founder and principal Joseph Pearson. "No company has greater knowledge of where eBooks have come from, and they're perfectly placed to identify where eBooks are going. This is why we're so thrilled to see them unite with Booki.sh."
Booki.sh principal Peter Haasz is also pleased to join the OverDrive team, and predicts a mutually beneficial collaboration. "Booki.sh couldn't have hoped for a better partner than OverDrive," said Haasz. "Working together means we can continue to innovate and improve upon the services we provide to Australian readers, publishers and booksellers, while for the first time taking our world-leading Australian technology to a global reading audience."
Booki.sh co-founder and principal Virginia Murdoch said, "Australia has a fantastically vibrant and engaged literary culture, and Booki.sh has flourished from the founders' strong ties to it. We're excited to be able to use our local knowledge to help OverDrive establish a base here, and to continue our work with local booksellers and publishers to promote the Australian book industry further afield."
OverDrive supplies a variety of digital channels worldwide, including 18,000 public and school libraries as well as booksellers. To find a participating library or school in the OverDrive network, visit http://search.overdrive.com.
About OverDrive
OverDrive is a leading multichannel digital distributor of eBooks, digital audiobooks, music and video. We deliver secure management, DRM protection, and fulfilment services for hundreds of publishers and thousands of libraries, schools, and booksellers, 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
About Booki.sh
Booki.sh is an immersive reading environment -- like a comfortable chair under a nice lamp -- designed for the pure joy of reading. Behind the scenes, Booki.sh is also a complete web-based platform for distributing, selling and reading eBooks that is simple to use on any device with a modern web browser. http://booki.sh
Contact Information:
Contact:
David Burleigh
OverDrive, Inc.
+1 216-573-6886 x218
Contact:
Peter Haasz
Booki.sh
+61 421 644 534