E-readers tipped for growth in 2010
8th January 2010
E-readers such as the Sony Touch and the BeBook Mini will become increasingly popular over the coming year, publishing experts have predicted.
A Bookseller poll of figures in the retail, library and digital sectors of the industry found that e-readers are one area in which growth is expected to be visible as the technology becomes more accepted by publishers and customers.
Peter Field, Penguin UK chief executive, claimed that the rise of digital formats will have a 'substantial' effect on the publishing industry and predicted e-books will start to replace physical books.
Victoria Barnsley, chief executive and publisher at HarperCollins UK, believes half of books will be read in an electronic format by 2020, which will allow consumers to benefit from greater variety.
Hachette UK head of digital George Walkley also pointed out that there has already been 'very interesting experimentation' in new formats, but said publishing in e-readers will be much more important during 2010, especially where popular authors are concerned.
Last year, IT industry analyst Gartner claimed that e-readers will enter the mainstream in the coming 12 months.