Brings major publishers in tow

In tandem with Canada Day, Apple has finally expanded the availability of paid books to the Canadian iBookstore. Several major publishers have begun selling titles, including Hachette, HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster. Book prices may vary substantially, but some featured launch titles range in cost between $12 and $18, roughly in line though perhaps slightly more expensive than US editions.

Apple has generally lagged in bringing paid books to international storefronts, likely as a result of complex licensing negotiations. The iBooks app has been available in Canada since the iPad launch in late May, but download options were until now limited to public domain works, mainly classic novels. Apple recently updated the software to support the iPhone and iPod touch, as well as enable features like note and bookmark sync.

by MacNN Staff