Sharp will offer the Japanese market two multimedia tablet / ebook-reader, from 10.8 inches and 5.5 inches, based on Google’s Android operating system. This new range of devices, called Galapagos, and related services will be available in Japan since December. Following the offering will be expanded to international markets. Sharp is considering an immediate distribution in the United States, in cooperation with the telecom operator Verizon Wireless.
Sharp will initially in Japan 30,000 titles (books, newspapers and magazines), a catalog that will increase according to the agreements with major publishers. Secondly, the service will be extended to other content (music, videos, movies, games) and open to other terminals, including third parties. Finally, school books and manuals will be available online. Like its competitors, Sony and Toshiba, Sharp also wants to jump in the field of digital book openly defying American giants such as Apple, Amazon and even Microsoft.
To distinguish, Sharp will provide innovative services such as automatic distribution of newspapers and magazines to digital subscribers.
