From tomorrow (27th March 2013), book fans can enjoy access to over 400,000 digital books anytime and anywhere with StarHub’s new e-bookstore, Booktique. It is available to all customers regardless of mobile operator or broadband service provider.
The unique feature of StarHub’s new e-bookstore is its social networking element. This platform creates a community where readers and writers can come together to share what they read, form discussion groups, interact and annotate, as they read.
Update:
Some readers wanted to know what format is the publication and also if the content is tied to DRM or not. Here is the answer I gathered from StarHub.
Q: What e-book format is Booktique using?
Ans: Booktique uses the standard ePUB format.
Q: Are the books from Booktique DRM protected?
Ans: The publishers determine whether implementing digital rights management is necessary to protect their digital books.
Let me know if you have more questions.
Press Release
StarHub supports local writing with Booktique
Reading made social with StarHub’s new e-bookstore
Singapore, 26 March 2013 – StarHub today announced the launch of its new e-bookstore, “Booktique”, enabling customers to easily access StarHub’s extensive library of digital books on their computers and mobile devices, anytime and anywhere.
Booktique is also integrated with a new user-friendly social networking platform which allows like-minded writers and readers to come together to share what they read, form discussion groups, interact and annotate, as they read.
“Booktique is not only an e-bookstore that offers an extensive catalogue of popular digital books, it allows StarHub to promote reading as a social activity as well as to showcase literary works by Singapore writers to improve exposure for their publications,” said Mr Stephen Lee, Assistant Vice President of I3, StarHub. “We take pride in StarHub being a local company and we are on the lookout for opportunities to stimulate and support productions of local content in collaboration with strategic partners.”
Mr R Ramachandran, Executive Director, National Book Development Council of Singapore, agrees, “National Book Development Council of Singapore (NBDCS) is pleased to partner with StarHub to support the launch of the Booktique e-bookstore and promote reading as an enjoyable activity for all. The growth in e-books presents a wonderful opportunity for Singapore’s writing community to have their work seen by many more readers.”
Mr Eugene Tay, Director, Monsters Under The Bed, said, “Monsters Under the Bed has been nurturing budding writers since 2006. The partnership with StarHub is a key element in our goal to give young writers a platform to hone their skills and showcase their talent. The literary scene is rapidly evolving; we are seeing an increasing number of writers as young as 11 years old coming to us with big dreams. Through this initiative, we just might discover our next Stephen King.”
StarHub’s e-book repository presents a wide selection of international English digital books – over 400,000 titles that cover categories including biographies, children, food, mystery, romance, science fiction, self-help and short stories – as well as a growing collection of literary works by local authors, including Catherine Lim, Dave Chua, Edmund Chen and Josephine Chia.
As part of the Booktique launch, StarHub today pledges its support for Singapore’s literary community by partnering the NBDCS and MUTB to bring talented local writers together through social events, workshops and writing competitions, culminating to the upcoming StarHub Short Fiction Challenge. StarHub Short Fiction Challenge is StarHub’s inaugural short story writing competition organised to promote creative writing to aspiring writers of all ages. More details of the competition will be revealed at a later date.
Starting tomorrow, reading fans can visit www.booktique.sg on their computers or download the free Booktique Reader mobile app available at Google Play and iTunes Store. Booktique is available to all customers regardless of mobile operator or broadband service provider. All they need to do is to sign up for a free Hub iD account with StarHub.
As a launch promotion, StarHub is giving away 10 popular digital titles, including Life of Pi by Yann Martel, The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick and 1356 by Bernard Cornwell for a limited time.
For more information, please visit www.booktique.sg.
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About StarHub:
StarHub is Singapore’s fully-integrated info-communications company, offering a full range of information, communications and entertainment services for both consumer and corporate markets. StarHub operates a HSPA+ mobile network that delivers up to 42Mbps for downlink to complement its nationwide GSM network, and an LTE network that provides connection speeds of up to 75Mbps in key business areas. It also manages an island-wide HFC network that delivers multi-channel pay TV services (including HDTV, Internet TV and on-demand services) as well as ultra-high speed residential broadband services. StarHub operates an extensive fixed business network that provides a wide range of data, voice and wholesale services. Over Singapore’s fibre-based Next Generation Nationwide Broadband Network, StarHub offers a broad range of home and business broadband plans along with a host of advanced media-rich value-added services.
Launched in 2000, StarHub has become one of Singapore’s most innovative info-communications providers, and the pioneer in ‘hubbing’ – the ability to deliver unique integrated and converged services to all its customers. StarHub, listed on the main board of the Singapore Exchange since October 2004, is a component stock of the Straits Times Index and the MSCI Singapore Free Index. Visit www.starhub.com for more information.
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