Rakuten Inc. (“Rakuten,” Chairman and CEO: Hiroshi Mikitani; Head Office: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo) will link its e-book store “Raboo” to Sony Corporation’s “Reader” e-book device from the beginning of November.

Raboo will launch e-book content distribution via Sony Reader at the beginning of November and will enable USB transfers of content purchased on the Sony Reader version of Raboo.

Rakuten also has plans to introduce a wireless service that will allow customers to purchase e-books using their Reader without the need to connect to a personal computer.

Raboo has been supported on Panasonic’s UT-PB1 device since it opened on August 10, 2011. With the addition of Sony Reader to its list of compatible devices, Raboo now offers customers even more ways to read content. This move represents a first step toward the creation of a unique multi-device, multi-store e-book market.

Going forward, Rakuten will continue to work for the popularization and expansion of the Japanese e-book market by offering further services of greater convenience to readers of e-books and by strengthening collaborative ties with other companies engaged in the market.

Sony’s Reader device is available for purchase through the Sony Store on Rakuten Ichiba.

Sony Store, Rakuten Ichiba

http://www.rakuten.co.jp/sonystore/