Taking the Power Back: Beyond Price Wars and iPads, What's Next for the Publishing Industry?

Online, April 15, 2010 (Newswire.com) - London - From high profile scuffles with online retailers to iPad fever and beyond, the first quarter of 2010 has proved that issues of digital distribution and content control are now steering the publishing industry's rapid evolution. As the international book industry gathers for the London Book Fair at Earl's Court April
19-21, a new generation of e-content technologies from MPS, a Macmillan Company, are encouraging publishers to declare their independence and to regain control of their content, digital rights management (DRM), and distribution strategies.

In an industry where slim margins are the rule, the digital transition has required significant investments and compromises, until now. Created to help drive sales while maximizing control of content, MPS's ContentStore puts the power to convert, host, market, and distribute content squarely in the hands of publishers; free from the power struggles that have hounded the industry of late. "Never before has it been easier and or more economical for publishers to capitalize upon new cost-effective digital solutions," says Rajiv K. Seth, CEO and Managing Director of MPS Limited. "We're not suggesting that publishers eliminate large online retailers from their digital strategies entirely. However we are opening the door to other alternatives that can build independence via new revenue streams and relationships with readers, and for a fraction of what it would have cost even a few years ago."

Although buoyed by recent victories, publishers know that the pricing and platform wars are still far from over. However solutions like ContentStore, which reduce the costs and pains of owning and maintaining an ecommerce platform, will set the stage for the next chapter of publishing history. Ratan Hastu, Sr VP and Head of Technology Solutions, explains: "Our extensive organizational strengths in both publishing and technology means we know what publishers' current and future challenges are. ContentStore gives them the opportunity to assert their own online retail presence, manage their own branding, marketing, and pricing."

With many more solutions currently under development, MPS will offer consultations on all aspects of a digital strategy as well as hosting demonstrations of tools and technologies including ContentStore, at London Book Fair, Booth X630, April 19-21, 2010.

CONTACT:
Europe:
Tim Corbett-Winder
+44 (0) 207 843 4909
[email protected]

USA:
Marie Duignan
+1 978 922 1955 x234
[email protected]

India:
Vikas Dhandhania
+91 80 4178 4242 x225
[email protected]