E-Book Update

Microsoft Corp. says that online retailer Amazon.com has selected the Microsoft Reader as the preferred format for Seattle-based Amazon's future e-Book store. Separately, Adobe Systems Inc. and Barnes & Noble.com have announced plans to expand the availability of eBooks in the Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) at the Barnes & Noble.com eBookStore.

Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft will create a customized Amazon.com version of Microsoft Reader, giving consumers the ability to purchase and download e-Book titles directly from Amazon.com and read them in Microsoft Reader format.

Consumers can download Microsoft Reader at no charge at www.microsoft.com/reader.

Meanwhile, customers can access Adobe PDF-based eBooks at the Barnes & Noble.com eBookStore using the Glassbook Reader software. Glassbook was recently acquired by Adobe, and Adobe and B&N say that they intend to expand this relationship to offer more titles in Adobe PDF. San Jose, Calif.-based Adobe plans to make future versions of the Acrobat Reader, incorporating Glassbook Reader technology, available to consumers at the B&N eBookStore, and Adobe plans to have a branded store at the B&N eBookStore site, while, for a limited time, Adobe intends to make New York City-based B&N its exclusive eBook retailer in the U.S.