14 DAY TRIAL // Apple has reportedly inked a deal to sell digital versions of Perseus Books Group’s books on the iPad, through the new iBookstore. Perseus Books Group is the world’s largest distributor of independent publishers, and supplies content from 330 other smaller presses, including Grove Atlantic, Harvard Business School Press, Zagat and City Lights Books.
The company reportedly signed the deal with Apple just last week, following five of the six biggest publishers that had already signed to get their content onto the iPad. Just like the other five, Perseus will have the advantage of setting its own prices, and get 70 percent of the sales. Apple, as it does with the App Store, will keep 30 percent of the sales as a commission.
The New York Times reports that e-book versions of new releases falling in the adult general fiction and nonfiction genres will cost between $12.99 and $14.99. There’s good news for the publishers whose books are distributed by Perseus, as they will be allowed to have a say about the price. The report mentions that Tom Neumayr, an Apple spokesman, confirmed that Apple had signed a deal with Perseus. A statement from David Steinberger, chief executive of Perseus, further sheds light on the matter.
“We’re working with Apple to make books from The Perseus Books Group and the independent publishers we represent available on the iBookstore starting on April 3,” Steinberger said in an email statement. “As the leading provider of distribution services for independent publishers, including digital distribution through our Constellation digital service, Perseus is thrilled to be making our books available on the iPad.”
The news comes as Amazon.com, the largest online seller of printed books and the biggest e-book seller in the US, has concentrated its efforts to nab publishers who have not yet signed deals with Apple to have their content distributed in e-format. Apple’s iPad is set to launch in the US come April 3rd.