HarperCollins, Apple in talks for tablet e-books

Publishing giant HarperCollins is in talks with Apple Inc to make electronic books available for the IT major's new tablet PC-- expected to be launched later this month, a media report says.

Attributing to people familiar with the situation, The Wall Street Journal said, "HarperCollins Publishers is negotiating with Apple Inc to make electronic books available for the introduction of a new tablet device from Apple."

The tablet, which is expected to be unveiled later this month, is likely to be a multimedia device that would let people watch movies and television shows, play games, surf the Internet and read electronic books and newspapers.

The report stated that HarperCollins is expected to set the prices of the e-books, which would have added features, with Apple taking a percentage of sales, but details have not been spelt out as yet.

However, it is not known yet whether Apple would sell the HarperCollins titles via a new e-book store or through its existing iTunes Store, which sells music, TV shows and movies.

The WSJ report cited people familiar with the matter as saying that other publishers have also met Apple officials.

Yesterday, Apple invited the media to a San Francisco event to be held on January 27, at which it is expected to unveil its tablet PC.

In December, HarperCollins Chief Executive Brian Murray had said e-books enhanced with video, author interviews and social-networking applications could command higher retail prices for publishers than current e-books.