Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Smashwords Partners with ScrollMotion to Deliver Indie Ebooks to Major Mobile App Marketplaces

Smashwords books are coming to an app store near you.

Today we announced an agreement with ScrollMotion that will transform over 33,000 Smashwords Premium Catalog ebooks into individual mobile apps for distribution to the largest app marketplaces for smart phones, tablets and other mobile devices.

The relationship will gain Smashwords authors and publishers free entry into the app marketplaces for Apple, Android, Windows Phone 7 and WebOS.

Our partnership with ScrollMotion expands the distribution of our books to the largest, fastest growing app marketplaces, and will enable Smashwords authors and publishers to reach new readers.

According to Gartner Group, worldwide smartphone sales will reach 468 million units in 2011, a 57.7 percent increase from 2010. Apple, Android and Windows Phone 7 above power 63 percent of all smart phones in 2011, and this will rise to 85 percent by 2015. Separately, in the all-important tablet market, which Gartner estimates will reach 69 million devices this year, Gartner predicts Apple, Android, WebOS will collectively power over 92 percent of tablets sold. Gartner estimates sales of tablets will grow to 294 million units by 2015, of which Apple, Android and WebOS are expected to command a collective 89 percent market share.

Over 47,000 books are published at Smashwords today, with over 5,000 new releases in the last 30 days. Over 34,000 of these titles have been accepted into the Smashwords Premium Catalog for distribution to major retailers.

Shipments to ScrollMotion will commence on Friday, and titles will begin appearing in the app marketplaces later this month. All Premium Catalog books are automatically opted in for ScrollMotion distribution. To modify distribution preferences, log in to your Smashwords Dashboard's Channel Manager. Like all Smashwords retail relationships, authors and publishers will earn 60 percent of the list price.

Read the official press release here.

If you're not yet working with Smashwords, learn how at our page, How to Publish and Distribute with Smashwords.
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77 comments:

  1. Jason MatthewsMay 4, 2011 at 10:10 AM

    Great news, Mark! Another reason no to worry about creating a specific book app and just sell through all the major players.

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  2. UnknownMay 4, 2011 at 10:11 AM

    That is wonderful news! Thank you, Smashwords and Mark, for working so hard to increase distribution. :)

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  3. Ben Campbell NovelsMay 4, 2011 at 10:28 AM

    What a great surprise. Movers like you, Mark, keep the ebook platform a mainstay.

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  4. Todd RussellMay 4, 2011 at 10:32 AM

    This is great news, Mark. Keep up the good work! :)

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  5. RodCMay 4, 2011 at 10:42 AM

    That's great news. I'm new to Smashwords - and announcements like this make me really glad I joined! Good luck :o)

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  6. Leah BMay 4, 2011 at 10:44 AM

    I love working within the publishing industry now that innovators like Mark Coker are putting the power back in the hands of creative people.

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  7. InklingMay 4, 2011 at 11:03 AM

    Not everyone is writing novels. I'd appreciate a post about the formatting options available with these apps. What can it handle other than standard paragraph text?

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  8. NickMay 4, 2011 at 11:18 AM

    Booyaahh!!!

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  9. AnonymousMay 4, 2011 at 12:18 PM

    You never cease to offer us delightful surprises, Mr. Coker.

    I think e-book apps are a great idea. It's like selling paperbacks at a grocery store: people who would never think of entering a bookstore will stumble across the books while searching for something else.

    (For those who are interested, the key to finding ScrollMotion e-books at the Apple app store seems to be to do a search on the word Iceberg.)

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  10. JakeMay 4, 2011 at 12:36 PM

    Great news, Mark. Thanks for always being on the go for us authors. That's why we all love you and send you our best thoughts all the time.
    --Jake

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  11. Lucy KevinMay 4, 2011 at 12:41 PM

    Wow, Mark! That's FANTASTIC news! So excited about this.

    Great work!
    ~ Lucy Kevin

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  12. rdlecoeurMay 4, 2011 at 12:49 PM

    Well done, Mark. Guess I'll have to get a smart phone now. lol.

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  13. Dan AbsalonsonMay 4, 2011 at 1:28 PM

    This is wonderful! Thank you so much Mark! Smashwords was already amazing. Now I'm at a loss for words.

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  14. G. J. LauMay 4, 2011 at 1:46 PM

    Congratulations. Really means a lot to all of us indie authors. You guys are the best.

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  15. AlejandroMay 4, 2011 at 2:06 PM

    One more big step for your Smahswords authors and publishers. Well done, Mark. Congrats from a spanish publisher.

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  16. Shayne ParkinsonMay 4, 2011 at 2:12 PM

    Great news, Mark! Congratulations on this.

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  17. David DerricoMay 4, 2011 at 2:13 PM

    Excellent! This is an area where it would be very difficult (and prohibitively expensive) for authors to expand on their own. It really opens up a whole new avenue. I look forward to seeing the results!

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  18. KippoeMay 4, 2011 at 2:22 PM

    Very cool news I was just thinking yesterday how great it would be if Smashwords had an App and here it is

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  19. Joseph BarbacciaMay 4, 2011 at 2:23 PM

    This is good news. Thank you. Will this open the capabilities for our books? Meaning can I now place video, narration or music into my work?

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  20. backpackerbillMay 4, 2011 at 2:29 PM

    Thanks for the up-date, Mark. You are doing an excellent job. I've got three more titles I'm going to be putting up on Smashwords shortly. Just a mnatter of getting them formatted. Keep up the good work.

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  21. Linda A. LavidMay 4, 2011 at 2:30 PM

    Merry Christmas to me. Graci!

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  22. UnknownMay 4, 2011 at 2:50 PM

    I love Smashwords.

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  23. PaulMay 4, 2011 at 3:24 PM

    That's Great!!, I have been telling a number of people about Smashwords, I had a question will this help those on Kindles? It seems from the distribution page that books still haven't shipped to Amazon. Is it true that if they just came to Smashwords they could buy books for their Kindles? Thanks, I think you're doing a great job of getting us out there. Thanks You

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  24. CoralMay 4, 2011 at 3:36 PM

    This is huge... huge I tell you! :)

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  25. MyneMay 4, 2011 at 3:38 PM

    This is really great news. I was wondering how to publish an app for my books and now that is case solved. Thank you Smashwords.

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  26. PhoenixAuthorMay 4, 2011 at 3:39 PM

    Smashwords just keep getting better!

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  27. BFunivMay 4, 2011 at 3:44 PM

    All we need is opportunity; thank you for supplying it.

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  28. Dovetail Public RelationsMay 4, 2011 at 3:58 PM

    Thanks for the enthusiastic feedback, everyone! I probably should have put in the post that we have no idea how big (or small) of a retail channel this will ultimately become. I scoured the Internet for hard numbers on the percentage of ebook sales derived by standalone book apps and no one seems to track it (maybe we'll be the first!).

    Paul, yes, although we're not officially distributing to the Amazon Kindle store yet, we do support Kindle users who want to purchase directly through Smashwords.com. They download the MOBI format.

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  29. Ted SummerfieldMay 4, 2011 at 4:11 PM

    Very nice news, Mark. I'll put a post about it on the Smashwords Forum.

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  30. Gina BlackMay 4, 2011 at 4:19 PM

    Fantastic!

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  31. AlishaMay 4, 2011 at 4:22 PM

    This is exciting news, Mark. Thank you so much! And thanks for helping me when I had problems uploading my book. Good to know you are the helm. :)

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  32. AnnetteMay 4, 2011 at 4:23 PM

    OMG, Mark! You're the best. When do you sleep? Give Lesleyann a hug so she recognizes you!

    Thanks for all your tireless work.

    Annette Langer

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  33. UnknownMay 4, 2011 at 4:32 PM

    Fantastic news! I'm so impressed with the job Smashwords has done to help authors and publishers reach readers.

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  34. SteveMay 4, 2011 at 4:45 PM

    That's great! Yet more platforms (like Kobo, B&N, Sony and iPad) where people will download my books if they're free but will only buy a copy every month or two!

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  35. AnonymousMay 4, 2011 at 5:22 PM

    And poof, just like that, another four (at least) markets. Seriously cool.

    Thanks for all you do, Mark!

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  36. AnonymousMay 4, 2011 at 5:39 PM

    Fantastic news!! Thank you, Mark, for continually supporting your authors and helping our readership grow.

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  37. Joseph ZittMay 4, 2011 at 5:45 PM

    Wonderful! But could you point us to a sample app (of a free book?) once one is ready, so we can get a further sense of what we're getting? And will we be getting notifications of when our book aps are available?

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  38. UnknownMay 4, 2011 at 6:34 PM

    So glad I chose smashwords to publish my work! Thank you, Mark, for the working so hard for all of us!

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  39. RogerMay 4, 2011 at 6:57 PM

    Brilliant!

    I saw some book apps in the Android market a few months ago, vaguely thought it would be a good idea to be there and then forgot. You saw the same thing and made it happen. Well done.

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  40. UnknownMay 4, 2011 at 7:01 PM

    Smashwords rocks yet again. You have definitely found your calling, Mark Coker. Thank you for the chance to go with the best distributor in the world of e-publishing.

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  41. AngelaMay 4, 2011 at 7:14 PM

    Excellent work, Mark!

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  42. Art in PoetryMay 4, 2011 at 7:22 PM

    That's a good as it gets, Mark. Thanks for working on our behalf. I'm delighted that all my books qualified.

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  43. J.A. LaughlinMay 4, 2011 at 8:17 PM

    This is great news, Mark. I really appreciate what you do with Smashwords. Keep up the good work!

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  44. UnknownMay 4, 2011 at 9:28 PM

    This is an amazing bit of news! Huge step forward for Smashwords!

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  45. Bonnie RiceMay 4, 2011 at 9:50 PM

    Great news. Smashwords always seems to stay ahead of the curve.

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  46. Lindsay BurokerMay 4, 2011 at 10:03 PM

    I can't imagine reading a novel on something as small as my phone, but I'm all to happy to have others do so. Especially if it's *my* novel. ;)

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  47. Meb BryantMay 4, 2011 at 10:03 PM

    I'm proud to be part of Mark's Smashwords, especially since I went into the Meatgrinder and came out alive. Can't wait to move forward from "pending approval." Meb Bryant, Harbinger of Evil

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  48. Oswald BastableMay 4, 2011 at 11:02 PM

    Great news- you simply CAN NOT get too much exposure!

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  49. Debashis DeyMay 4, 2011 at 11:29 PM

    This is indeed a milestone development. The only thing we now look forward to Smashwords is a faster approval system for the Premium Distribution. Thanks.

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  50. romuMay 5, 2011 at 12:38 AM

    Super! Je suis très content.
    ;-)

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  51. UnknownMay 5, 2011 at 2:20 AM

    Great news, Mark. I'm very grateful to you, and so are (I'm sure)all Smashwords authors. Riccardo Maffey

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  52. AnonymousMay 5, 2011 at 3:43 AM

    Great, Mark!

    Smashwords is a wonderful place for us authors/publishers!

    Kudos to you for making it even better!

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  53. AnonymousMay 5, 2011 at 3:48 AM

    Kudos, Mark!

    As a new member to Smashwords, I thank you for making your empowering service for authors even better!

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  54. Kristie Leigh Maguire - Indie AuthorMay 5, 2011 at 4:46 AM

    Fabulous news! WTG, Mark!

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  55. Stephanie ZiaMay 5, 2011 at 5:55 AM

    Fantastic! Onwards and upwards for Smashwords. Thanks for all you're doing for authors.

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  56. AnonymousMay 5, 2011 at 5:59 AM

    This is so AWESOME!!! Yet another avenue for people to find my writing. Thank you Smashwords!

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  57. Raul VejarMay 5, 2011 at 6:33 AM

    Very cool
    Your friends @CollegeProwler

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  58. Yasmin MoraisMay 5, 2011 at 7:26 AM

    Congratulations, Mark. Thank you for your enthusiasm, energy and leadership. I am so happy that I found Smashwords and published with you. You make Smashwords authors proud!

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  59. Questar ChroniclesMay 5, 2011 at 7:39 AM

    Wonderful news and thank you so much for all of your hard work and dedication to helping your authors!!
    Blessings and Peace.
    Lauren Zimmerman

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  60. RáyelMay 5, 2011 at 10:53 AM

    Parabéns Mark e a toda equipe Smashwords envolvida. Aqui no Brasil nós acreditamos na importância de iniciativas capazes de democratizar o acesso das pessoas aos livros e é exatamente isso que a smashwords faz.

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  61. Joleene NaylorMay 5, 2011 at 2:11 PM

    Fantastic! I love how Smashwords continues to expand!

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  62. AnonymousMay 5, 2011 at 3:20 PM

    Iiiiiinteresting! I look forward to finding out how this works for everyone!

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  63. E MenaMay 5, 2011 at 6:00 PM

    Great news. I too would love to see a sample book as app, to get a sense of what the final thing will look like.

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  64. Oswald BastableMay 6, 2011 at 1:05 AM

    Of topic a little- that 2 billion word mark has come up real fast!

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  65. UnknownMay 6, 2011 at 8:06 AM

    Wow! This is wonderful, thank you for all your hard work.
    Jewel

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  66. JakeMay 6, 2011 at 11:59 AM

    YESSSS!! Thank you Mark and all the Smashwords employees working so hard on all these things so we authors don't have to (Not that I would even know how to begin with something like this, eh?). This is why we love SW and Mark Coker (Well, besides the "little" fact that we are able to publish our otherwise forgotten books to the web).

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  67. bowerbirdMay 6, 2011 at 4:06 PM

    congratulations mark!
    (although i'd say that
    scrollmotion got the
    better part of the deal,
    if you ask me, anyway.)

    and i will add that i am
    a great admirer of your
    unflagging persistence
    and tenacity. you are a
    big champion for writers.

    -bowerbird

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  68. bowerbirdMay 6, 2011 at 4:06 PM

    congratulations mark!
    (although i'd say that
    scrollmotion got the
    better part of the deal,
    if you ask me, anyway.)

    and i will add that i am
    a great admirer of your
    unflagging persistence
    and tenacity. you are a
    big champion for writers.

    -bowerbird

    ReplyDelete
  69. GrimduxMay 7, 2011 at 3:28 AM

    Fantastic! More exposure is always welcome, congratulations Mark!

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  70. Sarah, The Webbiegrrl WriterMay 7, 2011 at 5:18 AM

    This is such amazing news, Mark, and the best part? You GIVE it to us FREE FREE FREE. Thank you so much for working so hard to make all of OUR books a publishing success. You have to be the best distributor out there!

    -sry
    Coming Home (Dicky's Story)
    A Romantic Comedy / Jewish Inspirational by Sarah R. Yoffa (March, 21, 2011)
    http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/29309

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  71. Sarah, The Webbiegrrl WriterMay 7, 2011 at 5:21 AM

    p.s. to Paul re the question of getting Kindle books from Smashwords: SUPER EASY!! When you set up your Kindle device, you get an email address. Once you buy a book from Smashwords, you just email the MOBI file to that free Kindle address and your book is fully-loaded on your Kindle device the next time you turn it on. Like magic :)

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  72. AnonymousMay 7, 2011 at 10:28 PM

    This is certainly the best site of its type. Well done!

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  73. UnknownMay 9, 2011 at 11:10 AM

    This whole ebook revolution has been so exciting to me. I keep wondering what's coming next? I hope I can become acquainted with some of my fellow Smashwords travelers.
    www.GuardinosWrite.com/conartist.html

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  74. Saundra L.May 9, 2011 at 12:23 PM

    What a delightful surprise Mark. I am so impressed with all that you and your partners are doing that I really do not know how to express what I feel. I believe in this win/win revolution and so proud to be apart. God bless you and all the writers on Smashwords.

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  75. AnonymousMay 10, 2011 at 7:50 PM

    GREAT results from your efforts Mark.Well deserved Imho.
    RE:DOWNLOAD stats---they are for Total d/l---right? Any chance we could see the total /month stats ranking. Some shown with high d/l figures here have been available for YEARS!
    Thanks in advance.

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  76. Ernesto Panamá Escritor.May 12, 2011 at 8:37 AM

    Great, well done. I am happy to be working with Smaswords and Mark!

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  77. Shannon MeadowsMay 15, 2011 at 1:23 AM

    Mark, keep up the great work. I'm very excited to be part of the ebook revolution/evolution. I don't think we'll realise until we look back just how important the current developments have been.

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