September 29, 2016
  • Rakuten Kobo Inc.
  • Rakuten Inc.

Rakuten Kobo launches world-class
eReading service in Taiwan

Expands global footprint with localized service and partners with leading Taiwanese publishers to add thousands of traditional Chinese language titles to global library.

Taipei, Taiwan, September 29, 2016 Rakuten Kobo, one of the world’s most innovative eReading services, today announced the launch of its popular eBookstore in Taiwan. In addition to the localized service launch, Rakuten Kobo also announced its partnership with a number of Taiwan’s leading publishers to offer original and translated traditional Chinese language digital titles to booklovers around the world.

The Rakuten Kobo Taiwan eBookstore will be managed by a dedicated team and will offer a robust lineup of thousands of popular traditional Chinese language titles, as well as travel guides, lifestyle titles, business books and magazines. In addition to its localized eBookstore, Rakuten Kobo has also developed free Chinese language eReader apps for Android and iOS smartphones and tablet devices, allowing Taiwanese booklovers to enjoy millions of international titles available from leading publisher partners around the world on devices they already own.

Leading Taiwan publishers partnering with Rakuten Kobo include Cite Publishing, Yuan Liou Publishing, Book Republic, Eurasian and Readingtimes Publishing.

“We are pleased to offer Kobo’s localized eBookstore service in Taiwan, making it easy for booklovers to build digital libraries stocked with all their favorite titles,” said Michael Tamblyn, CEO and President of Rakuten Kobo. “We work closely with Taiwan’s vibrant publishing community to bring the best content to our Chinese language reading community here and around the world.”

“I am delighted to see another great Rakuten service launch in Taiwan, one of our most important international markets,” commented Hiroshi Mikitani, Chairman and CEO of Rakuten, Inc. “Since our launch in Taiwan in 2008, Rakuten has steadily built the range of innovative services available to our growing membership base across e-commerce, fintech, travel and now digital content.”

The Rakuten Kobo eBookstore is located at tw.kobo.com and international digital readers can peruse a wide variety of traditional Chinese language titles across all genres at their local Rakuten Kobo eBookstore, accessible through www.kobo.com

Rakuten Kobo’s eBookstore service launch in Taiwan follows service expansion announcements in Turkey and Mexico and is part of Rakuten Kobo’s expansion to serve its global eReading community with original and translated digital content from publisher partners around the world.

About Rakuten Kobo Inc.
Believing that consumers should have the freedom to read any book on any device, Rakuten Kobo provides consumers with a choice when reading. Rakuten Kobo offers an eReader for everyone with a wide variety of E Ink eReaders, as well as free top-ranking eReading apps for Apple®, BlackBerry®, Android®, and Windows®. Rakuten Kobo eReaders can be found in major retail chains around the world. Rakuten Kobo is headquartered in Toronto and owned by Tokyo-based Rakuten.

About Rakuten, Inc.
Rakuten, Inc. (TSE: 4755) is one of the world's leading internet services companies, offering a wide variety of services for consumers and businesses with a focus on e-commerce, finance, and digital content. Since 2012, Rakuten has been ranked among the world’s ‘Top 20 Most Innovative Companies’ in Forbes magazine’s annual list. Rakuten is expanding worldwide and currently operates throughout Asia, Europe, the Americas and Oceania. Founded in 1997, Rakuten is headquartered in Tokyo, with over 12,000 employees worldwide.

For more information, visit www.kobo.com and global.rakuten.com/corp/

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