The Adobe eBook products were originally created by Glassbook, Inc. and came to Adobe as the result of Adobe acquiring Glassbook in August of 2000. As of this writing, two products are available, enabling the publishing, distribution, and viewing of electronic books via the Web. Based on the Adobe PDF format and EBX (Electronic Book Exchange) licensing, the products ultimately will allow publishers to provide rich publications for Web surfers (and other electronic mediums) through the use of the freely downloadable Adobe eBook Reader while respecting the rights of the publishers/copyright holders.

The Adobe eBook Reader enables users of Windows or Mac based devices to read the E-Books distributed using the PDF format and the EBX Open Standard technology. It allows for the incorporation of color graphics and extended page layouts. The Adobe eBook Reader is a free download. Additional features in the latest release include two-page viewing, text-to-speech functions allowing portions of E-Books to be read aloud, and screen rotation allowing for the horizontal or vertical display of E-Books on the PC.

The Adobe Content Server provides E-Book distribution and management tools for publishers or book sellers. The Content Server allows the vendor to create encrypted eBook packages - complete with specifications for the rights of consumers to use the eBooks - for distribution via EBX or Adobe PDF Merchant. Additionally, the content server supplies functions for the distribution of eBooks to distributors or e-Tailers; the procurement of eBooks from other suppliers, and the fulfillment and delivery of eBook orders from consumers.

Both products are available now. The eBook Reader is free and can be downloaded from the Adobe eBooks Web site. The Content Server is priced according to one of two models. In the first model, which is designed for organizations with a need to distribute a known number of documents to a single destination sites, the server is priced at $5,000 (one time fee) for the ability to publish up to 250 titles (plus $1,000 per additional 500 titles). The second model is for ASPs, and is priced at $10,000 for a single destination site (unlimited titles). Additional destination sites are priced at $1,500/each.

Contact Adobe for further information.

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