Rook Labs,
based in London, plans to release an app that allows people to access e-books
on their mobile devices at no charge while they’re in a defined location, such
as a café, park, hospital, or subway car. When the person starts to move out of
range, they’ll be invited to buy and download their own copy of the e-book
right from the app.
A beta
version of the location-based app, also dubbed Rook, will be unveiled at the
London Book Fair this week. The company’s website claims users will be able to
read “premium” e-books with the app and The Guardian reported Rook has two independent book publishers lined up to
participate. It’s not clear how many titles are currently available.
“The
biggest hurdle to overcome will be publisher suspicion about a great e-book
giveaway,” The Guardian article
commented, noting that readers are unlikely to pay for the book if there are
enough Rook hotspots to finish it for free.
The beta
version will be rolled out only in London and New York City.