Amazon, Adobe team up on e-books

Amazon.com, which made its name by selling books online at steep discounts

said it is now teaming up with Adobe to sell more than 2,000 e-book titles that

use Adobe’s eBook Reader software. They will be available immediately through

Amazon.com's electronic book section.

The deal with Adobe will take Amazon's e-book selection to more than 4,000

titles. Previously, Amazon.com carried only titles compatible with Microsoft

Reader. "We said when we launched the e-book store in November that we'd

evaluate other technologies,'' said Jeff Blackburn, general manager of worldwide

digital for Amazon.com. "At the time, Microsoft had the best platform, and

as it turns out, Adobe has come out with equally good software.''

Adobe launched its eBook Reader software in January with titles available at

Barnes & Noble.com.

"Six months ago, only a few publishers were putting their toe in the

water but now we're getting hundreds of titles at a time,'' said Michael Looney,

senior director of eBooks at Adobe who added that thrillers and children's books

will be among its offerings. So far, Adobe has only targeted books for students

and mobile professionals.