iBooks entry looms large

Singapore

THE other shoe being dangled over the e-book retail industry here is poised to drop, with Apple's iBookstore launch here almost a certainty.

Industry sources The Business Times spoke to confirmed that Apple has stitched up deals with publishing houses across South-east Asia as part of its plans for the iBookstore. All that is needed is the green light from Apple headquarters for the launch of the South-east Asian store.

An industry source with knowledge of the matter told BT that iBookstore's launch for the region will include Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and "maybe the Philippines and Brunei". He revealed that agreements had been signed and accounts had been created. Now, mat…