Borders® Offers a Total eReading Experience with Kobo-branded eBook Store, Latest Kobo Apps, Borders eReading Blog, eBook Club

ANN ARBOR, Mich., June 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Borders® today announced an important milestone in its overall digital strategy. Through an expanded partnership with Kobo, Borders is now offering customers access to one of the premiere eReading experiences in the industry via the Kobo eBook store, one of the largest stores worldwide, and Kobo apps that offer a unique social reading experience. The company also announced a newly launched eReading Blog and eBook club, giving the eReading community great eBook deals, rich book-driven conversations, access to guest authors, and the opportunity to indulge their love of eReading when and how they want to.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20060208/BORDERSLOGO )

"As a trusted authority in books, Borders is excited to team with Kobo, a global leader in eReading, to expand and enhance access to rich digital content, industry leading eReading apps and eReading devices with cutting-edge technology," said Borders, Inc. CEO Mike Edwards. "Borders and Kobo will continue to work with global eReader brands to provide a superior eReading experience to readers worldwide."    

Kobo eBook store, apps available now on Borders.com

Beginning today, customers can visit Borders.com and easily download the latest free Kobo eReading apps, transition their existing Borders eBook library to their new Kobo library, or start a new account with Kobo. Customers who register for a free Kobo account or bring their Borders eBook library to Kobo will be entered into a contest to win one of 10 $500 Kobo eGift cards. The contest runs through August 31, 2011.

The free Kobo eReading apps are available for the iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Android smartphones and tablets, Blackberry® smartphones and the Blackberry® PlayBooks as well as PC and Mac computers. Borders today sells the industry leading Kobo Wireless eReader and is now accepting pre-orders for the all new Kobo eReader Touch Edition, and expects customers will have the device in time for Father's Day.

With the Kobo eReading experience offered though Borders, customers can enjoy:

• Access to popular newspapers and magazines — in addition to millions of ebooks, from the NYT's bestseller list, the hottest new releases, thrillers and romance to Oprah's Picks and more, delivered right to their devices;
• A unique and engaging social reading experience with Kobo's "Reading Life" available via the Kobo apps, allowing customers to earn awards for reading and share quotes and selections from the books they are reading with friends on Facebook and Twitter;
• Exclusive eBook offers including great discounts on new releases;
• App updates and new eReading features upon release;
• The option to gift eBooks to family and friends;  
• The ability to borrow eBooks from local libraries;
• Easy library access — Borders and Kobo eBooks will be safely stored in the customer's library.

"We are pleased to provide Borders' customers with a leading eReading experience," said Mike Serbinis, CEO, Kobo, Inc. "Borders customers will now be able to download the latest Kobo eReading apps, access over 2.3 million eBooks, newspapers and magazines, and try Reading Life, Kobo's social reading platform — where customers can earn awards just for reading."

New Borders eReading Blog and Borders eBook Club

Borders has launched its first eBook club on Borders.com featuring "The Story of Beautiful Girl" by Rachel Simon. Throughout the month of June, Ms. Simon and the Borders Team will provide the back story behind the title, such as the research she conducted while writing, to give readers a one-of-a-kind book club experience. At the end of the month, Borders will host a Facebook chat with Ms. Simon, giving fans the opportunity to ask questions and engage with her on the book. 

Borders has also created the Borders eClectic Reader blog on Borders.com where customers can enjoy something different every day of the work week. Monday finds readers taking advantage of the Last Chance Deal, which offers great savings on select eBooks. Tuesdays feature the newest eBook releases, while Wednesday and Thursday find book lovers indulging in book trailers, author questions and answers, videos and musings by guest bloggers. On Fridays, customers can enjoy posts by guest authors and experts on a variety of engaging topics.  

Kobo eReader™ Touch Edition Now Available for Pre-Order on Borders.com

Rounding out Borders' latest eReading offerings is the Kobo eReader Touch Edition, which customers can now pre-order on Borders.com. The new device, which retails for $129.99, boasts a revolutionary new touch screen experience with new Infrared Touch Technology. Equipped with the newest E Ink Screen, the Kobo eReader Touch Edition is easy on the eyes, even in bright sunlight, and with the Real Touch™ page turning — the experience is just like reading a real book.

Created for readers by readers, the beautiful new design provides the ultimate in reading comfort and is the most portable eReader — thin and light, it travels easily anywhere. Kobo's Reading Life, and industry-first social eReading platform, enables readers to gain insight into their reading habits with Reading Life Stats, which tracks the minutes per reading session, the number of pages they've turned, plus provides an overview of books completed in their library. In the coming weeks, customers will be able to share the fun and exciting awards they receive for reading, as well as their favorite book quotes and selections with friends, on Facebook and Twitter.

About Borders Group, Inc.

Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., through its subsidiaries, Borders Group, Inc. is a specialty retailer of books as well as other educational and entertainment items. Online shopping is offered through borders.com. Find author interviews and vibrant discussions of the products we and our customers are passionate about online at facebook.com/borders, twitter.com/borders and youtube.com/bordersmedia. For more information about the company, visit borders.com/media.

Safe Harbor Statement

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. One can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "expect," "believe," "planning," "possibility," "opportunity," "goal," "will," "may," "intend," "anticipates," "working toward" and other words of similar meaning. One can also identify them by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and plans to differ materially from those included in the company's forward-looking statements.

These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to (i) the ability of the company to continue as a going concern, (ii) the company's ability to obtain Bankruptcy Court approval with respect to motions in the chapter 11 cases, (iii) the ability of the company and its subsidiaries to prosecute, develop and consummate one or more plans of reorganization with respect to the chapter 11 cases, (iv) the effects of the company's bankruptcy filing on the company and the interests of various creditors, equity holders and other constituents, (v) Bankruptcy Court rulings in the chapter 11 cases and the outcome of the cases in general, (vi) the length of time the company will operate under the chapter 11 cases, (vii)risks associated with third party motions in the chapter 11 cases, which may interfere with the company's ability to develop and consummate one or more plans of reorganization once such plans are developed, (viii) the potential adverse effects of the chapter 11 proceedings on the company's liquidity or results of operations, (ix) the ability to execute the company's business and restructuring plan, (x) increased legal costs related to the company's bankruptcy filing and other litigation, (xi) the company's ability to maintain contracts that are critical to its operation, to obtain and maintain normal terms with its vendors, landlords and service providers and to retain key executives, managers and employees.

In the event that the risks disclosed in the company's public filings and those discussed above cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the company's forward-looking statements, the company's business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity, and the interests of creditors, equity holders and other constituents, could be materially adversely affected.

About Kobo, Inc.

Kobo is a global eReading service with more than 2.3 million eBooks, magazines and newspapers – one of the largest eReading catalogues in the world. Kobo believes consumers should have the freedom to read any book on any device and has attracted millions of readers from over 100 countries across the globe. Kobo has top ranked eReading applications for iPad, iPhone, BlackBerry, Android, Windows and MacOS, and is the eReading application of choice for leading tablets. The Kobo eReader is also available at leading retailers including Indigo, Walmart, Best Buy, Borders, WHSmith, Angus & Robertson's and Whitcoull's. Kobo's innovative Reading Life is an industry-first comprehensive social eReading experience – Kobo users can earn awards simply for time spent reading and encouraging others to read.  Kobo is backed by majority shareholder Indigo Books & Music Inc, Cheung Kong Holdings, Borders Group, Inc., and institutional investors. For more information, please visit www.Kobo.com.

SOURCE Borders