Microsoft announced on Monday that it will take a $300 millionstake in bookseller Barnes & Noble’s digital Nook e-book business,custom iphone 5 cases,potentially paving the way for a new spin-off company. The new partnership will create a subsidiary that will include notonly the Nook business, but also Barnes & Noble’s college textbookbusiness as well,coach outlet store, according to The Associated Press . The deal also means Barnes & Noble will create a Nook applicationfor Windows 8,christian louboutin, much like the company’s existing e-book offering forApple’s iPhone and iPad. Both companies also revealed that they are exploring thepossibility of spinning off the e-book and college businesses,Football- spain eye unique treble as euro 2012 loo,christian louboutin outlet,Norfolk gas installer may face prison after gas ex,which could result in a stock offering or sale.  maple coffee tables
The partnership places Microsoft in the midst of the e-bookbusiness where Barnes & Noble has already been competing withApple’s iBookstore and the Amazon Kindle platform. Apple alsoincreased its push for digital textbooks earlier this year, withthe release of iBooks 2 for iOS. Barnes & Noble also offers education-focused content with its ownNook Study software. That, along with its college booksellersbusiness, will now fall under the umbrella of the new subsidiary,custom iphone 4s cases,in which Microsoft has a $300 million stake.  retro coffee tables
“Our complementary assets will accelerate e-reading innovationacross a broad range of Windows devices, enabling people to notjust read stories, but to be part of them,christian louboutin,” said Andy Lees,president at Microsoft. “We’re on the cusp of a revolution inreading.” Lees was formerly the head of Microsoft’s Windows Phone division,but was pulled from that role last December. Microsoft CEO SteveBallmer said in a memo at the time that he had asked Lees to work in a new,http://www.christianlouboutinoutletcl2013.net,“time-critical” role “focused on driving maximum impact in 2012with Windows Phone and Windows 8.” He said the change would allowMicrosoft to “really deliver” the potential Microsoft has with bothWindows 8 and Windows Phone. Though it still operates brick-and-mortar stores that sell hardcopies of books, Barnes & Noble has attempted to shift its businessto the digital world, selling the Nook e-reader hardware and also offering e-books through its Nook platform on a range ofdevices.  Furniture & Furnishings
The company lags behind Amazon’s Kindle platform,Online Vocal Exercises - how to become a model - t,louis vuitton bags, whichsimilarly offers the Kindle e-reader hardware and multi-platforme-book software. “The formation of Newco and our relationship with Microsoft areimportant parts of our strategy to capitalize on the rapid growthof the Nook business,http://www.coachoutletsbag.com, and to solidify our position as a leader inthe exploding market for digital content in the consumer andeducation segments,karen millen,” Barnes & Noble CEO William Lynch said.