Japanese Company Sharp plans to enter the e-book market

The Japanese company Sharp said Tuesday it plans to enter the market of readers and electronic books, hoping to capitalize on the innovative but increasingly crowded sector, popularized by Apple and Amazon.

Sharp this year plans to offer a delivery service and launch e-book reader compatible with devices that also allow users to watch videos and listen to audio content. The company has said it has the backing of several publishers in Japan and other countries.
The instant popularity of Apple’s IPAD has stimulated the growth of markets for readers and electronic books, and global competition is increasing every day. Amazon Barnes & Noble and Sony last month reduced the prices of their devices in response to the threat of IPAD.
In Japan, companies like Sony and mobile operator KDDI are working together to distribute electronic books, trying to break the resistance to digital content publishers.
Google also said this month it plans to launch an electronic book service in Japan early next year.