Barnes & Noble opens online e-bookstore

The world’s largest bookseller Barnes & Noble has opened an eBookstore offering over 700,000 eBooks, with half a million free of charge courtesy of Google.

The store, located at https://www.barnesandnoble.com/ebooks/, offers books that can be downloaded and read on several platforms including the iPhone, iPod Touch, BlackBerry, Windows, Macs and PCs.

B&N said the amount of books will increase to over one million in the next year, “inclusive of every available eBook from every book publisher and every available eBook original”.

“Readers can discover and explore this rich treasure trove, including everything from classic works by well-known writers to long-forgotten and obscure titles that are historically much harder to access.”

The store also works with the B&N eReader iPhone application, which will enable users to find more information about books they are searching for.

“In addition to enabling customers to easily place orders for books, movies and CDs… using the iPhone’s camera, customers can snap a photo of the front cover [of a book] and within seconds get product details, editorial reviews and customer ratings – even find and reserve a copy in the nearest store. The app also includes a store locator, bestseller lists, book recommendations and a store events calendar.”

Four eBooks are now available for free: Merriam-Webster’s Pocket Dictionary, Sense and Sensibility, Little Women, Last of the Mohicans, Pride and Prejudice and Dracula.