Reuters’ Yinka Adegoke reported that Apple made waves in the textbook industry with the launch of its iBooks 2 software on Thursday, which will make digital textbooks available for open purchase.
According to Adegoke, the computing giant has been working with publishers Pearson PLC, McGraw-Hill Cos Inc and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt—who produce 90 percent of textbooks sold in the United States. The move is expected to vastly expand the market of textbook consumers beyond high school and college students to everyday people; lifelong learners.
Since printing and publishing account for a full quarter of textbook production costs, McGraw-Hill Chief Executive Terry McGraw told Adegoke he was not concerned about sharing profits with Apple, who will be selling textbooks in the pilot launch at $14.99.
Rolled into the launch of iBooks 2 is the release of the iTunes U app, which offers up to 100 complete university courses from higher education institutions including the likes of Yale and Duke.
This massive launch spells a great leap forward in everyday, lifelong learner’s ability to engage in self-directed education …as long as they own an iPad.
