Leading Internet Publisher of Digital Fiction Announces Support for PalmPilot and Rocket eBook
SEATTLE — May 19, 1999 — Alexandria Digital Literature, the world's preeminent Internet publisher of digital science fiction, has introduced support for Palm Computing(R) connected organizers, including the PalmPilot, Palm III and Palm V. The company has also reached an agreement with NuvoMedia to publish its catalog in the Rocket eBook format in June 1999. Founded by CEO Dave Howell in 1996, Alexandria Digital Literature's catalog of over 350 titles by established authors makes it the largest non-public domain site offering digital literature. Its prestigious titles include numerous Nebula and Hugo winning stories. "As we announce our support for the Palm Computing platform and Rocket eBook devices we take a large step toward our goal of universal accessibility to our catalog of fiction," said Howell.
"Alexandria is more than a pioneer in this space," said Ted Ladd, Alliance Relations Manager for Palm Computing Inc. "By demonstrating the business potential of electronic books to authors and publishers, it is helping to create a new industry. We are confident that both the company and the industry will grow at a dramatic rate." As industry players have sought to establish proprietary formats for ebooks, Alexandria has embraced all formats as a way to increase access to digital literature. The Alexandria Web site adheres to Universal Design standards that make it accessible to the widest number of Web browsers including adaptive technologies used by people with disabilities. The Alexandria site is "Bobby" certified, meaning it has been analyzed and approved by the Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST) for its accessibility.
The Alexandria site also features Hypatia, a personalized reading recommendation service that suggests new authors and stories to readers after assessing their literary tastes. Recommendations are objective, and not exclusively directed at the site's own catalog. "Hypatia helps readers find high quality material, and can help readers save time and trouble sorting through reading alternatives — digital or otherwise," Howell said. Although CMPNet reports that the Gartner Group has named E-books one of the top 10 emerging technologies for 1999, it says Gartner analyst Maureen Fleming emphasizes that content, the digital files, not the reading devices, may be the critical aspect of the industry.
Alexandria Digital Literature: www.alexlit.com Media Only: mediakit.alexlit.com
Palm Computing platform is a registered trademark of Palm Computing Inc.
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Kathleen M. Hosfeld, 800/277-8389, Ext. 1