Barnes & Noble and Microsoft form a new partnership

Barnes and Noble, manufacturer of the Nook e-book reader, has announced that it has formed a partnership with Microsoft.

At the beginning of 2012, the US-based publisher announced its intention to separate the digital and publishing sides of its business. The new partnership with Microsoft will see a new company being formed in which it has a 82.4% stake and Microsoft a 17.6% stake.

The venture is a way for Microsoft to integrate Windows 8 into the Nook e-readers, whilst exposing the reader to a whole new customer base.

Microsoft’s president, Andy Lees said: "Our complementary assets will accelerate e-reading innovation across a broad range of Windows devices, enabling people to not just read stories, but to be part of them.”

Read more here from the BBC

30/04/12