Sony Reader store closes in Australia and the UK
Following similar moves in the US and Canada earlier this year, ebook retailer Kobo will be taking over management of Sony's Reader Store customers in Australia, the UK, Germany and Austria.
It took six or seven years to finally arrive in Australia after its launch in the US, and now the Sony Reader Store will be closing its doors for business after just 12 months.
Following the February announcement that it would be selling Vaio and shutting its e-reader business in the US, Sony will close its Reader Store in the remaining western markets -- Australia, the UK, Germany and Austria.
As with the closure of the US and Canadian stores, all Sony Reader Store customers will be migrated across to the Kobo platform. The Sony store is due to close on 16 June 2014, after which the Kobo Android app -- which includes the Kobo ebook store and an e-reader -- will be pre-loaded on selected Sony Xperia smartphones and tablets.
"We are delighted to be working with Sony to reach the most passionate Readers in Europe and Australia, by bringing the Kobo world to Reader Store customers -- keeping them reading their favourite stories," said Kobo CEO Takahito Aiki. "Both companies share the goal of putting the most passionate booklovers at the centre of the reading experience. This means providing the best experience through innovative technology coupled with a vast and comprehensive digital reading ecosystem."
According to its FAQ, Kobo recommends that you make sure all your purchases are downloaded. Purchases will be transferred to the new platform, but some books may be unavailable. All existing Sony Reader Store customers will receive and email containing detailed instructions for how to transfer personal libraries.
Each country has its own FAQ. You can find them online here: Australia | UK | Germany | Austria.