Sony to launch "Reader Store" platform from Luxembourg

Sony plans to expand access to its digital library for Europe and Luxembourg is about to play a central role in this new project.

On Monday, at IFA 2011 in Berlin, the world's largest consumer electronics and home appliance show, Sony announced the launch of its digital library, “Reader Store”, in the UK in October to accompany the release of the Sony e-book Reader PRS-T1.

This will be followed with Germany and Austria by the end of the year. The rest of Western Europe will have to wait until early 2012.

In order to ensure a strong market hold in Europe, Sony has completely revised its strategy. Rather than let each national subsidiary take care if its digital library, a European platform will be managed directly from Luxembourg.

To do this, the electronics giant created a new company in June, called "Sony Digital Reading Services Sarl". Job advertisements are already appearing, in fact about 20 positions appeared in Wednesday's edition of Luxemburger Wort.

Luxembourg was chosen not only because some of Sony's competitors are already established in the Grand Duchy, but also for its strategic location in the heart of Europe and its multilingualism.

The visit of Economy Minister Jeannot Krecké to Japan in May no doubt helped with the company's decision, as he met with Sony's vice-president.