CourseSmart launches its eCommerce platform in the U.K., Europe, providing access to eTextbooks, digital course materials from any web-enabled device

Kendall Sinclair

SAN MATEO, California , May 21, 2012 (press release) – CourseSmart®, the world's largest provider of eTextbooks and digital course materials, today announced its continued international growth with the launch of an eCommerce platform in the UK and Europe. The platform provides students access to eTextbooks and digital course materials anytime, anywhere from any web-enabled device. Students in the UK and Europe will also now enjoy guaranteed, up-front savings of up to 40% when compared to a new print textbook.

"The world of textbooks is changing. Through the proliferation of tablets, handheld devices, laptops and computers, the academic world is moving online and engaging with students like never before. We are very excited to be at the forefront of this evolution," said Fionnuala Duggan, Managing Director of CourseSmart International. "The eCommerce platform will help students to save money, instructors to engage online, publishers to access a developing market and booksellers to be part of this significant development in publishing."

Following the international expansion plans first announced in May 2011, CourseSmart launched its free Online Sampling Platform, which enables faculty in the UK and Europe to instantly preview and select eTextbook titles for use in specific courses. The eCommerce platform, which is now live, will provide all of the functions of traditional textbooks, enhanced by today's technologies, including:

Anytime, anywhere access to materials via www.coursesmart.com, www.coursesmart.co.uk or through various mobile devices and tablets;
Search function for topics within a single book or across an entire eTextbook stack;
Highlighting and note-taking capabilities within the eTextbook, which can be easily recalled or searched;
Page fidelity and preservation, mirroring the print edition's page numbers, full text, diagrams, illustrations and charts;
Ability to cut and paste as well as email sections, notes and highlighted text; and
Accessible titles for students and instructors with print-related disabilities

For more information, please visit www.coursesmart.com or www.coursesmart.co.uk.

About CourseSmart®

As the world's largest provider of digital course materials, CourseSmart® connects education publishers to consumers by providing an efficient distribution platform for their best-selling content in digital form. Founded in 2007, the San Mateo, Calif.-based company provides services to four business segments: Online direct retail for students; Indirect distribution of course materials to students through bookstores; Online faculty textbook evaluation services; and Institutional solutions for faculty and students that are integrated within campus technology ecosystems. CourseSmart improves the educational process and experience by offering all users anywhere, any-time access to the course content they need, including those with vision- and print-related disabilities. With more than 90% of the same core titles offered by major print publishers, the company's eTextbooks can be purchased for up to 60% less than the cost of new print textbooks. For more information about CourseSmart, visit the company's Web site at www.coursesmart.com.

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