Kobo Inc.

E-readers

Kobo produces several e-readers with ePaper screens. The first Kobo eReader was introduced in 2010.[8] The product lineup went on to consist of the base model Kobo Touch, the smaller Kobo Mini, and the Kobo Glo, which has an illuminated screen. On the higher end, the Kobo Aura; the Kobo Aura HD, which added a higher-resolution screen, the waterproof Kobo Aura H2O; and the waterproof Kobo Forma which added physical buttons and a choice of orientation.[9] In 2018, the company released the Kobo Clara HD as another 6-inch option (the Aura Edition 2 being the first).[10]

In 2019, the Kobo Libra H2O was released. Kobo partnered with Hotel Viu Milan to create a Reader in Residence program and for a month, the Kobo Libra H2O was placed in hotel rooms for guests to use.[11] In 2020, Kobo introduced the Kobo Nia, an entry-level e-reader to replace the discontinued Kobo Aura.[12] In 2021, Kobo introduced the Kobo Elipsa, an e-reader and smart notebook that allows users to write on the screen.[13] The Kobo Clara 2E,a 6-inch, waterproof e-reader made from recycled plastic, featuring Bluetooth for audiobooks and 16GB of storage was released in September 2022.[14] In 2024, Kobo released two e-readers with full-colour displays: the Kobo Libra Colour, which is also compatible with a stylus, and the Kobo Clara Colour.[15]

These eReaders compete with the Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble Nook product lines.

Kobo's eReaders use Wi-Fi to sync a user's book collection and bookmarks with Kobo's cloud service, which can also be accessed from Kobo eReading apps for Windows and macOS computers, Android and iOS smartphones.

Tablets

Kobo produced the Kobo Arc family of Android tablets, which it introduced in 2012 and refreshed in 2013. It previously sold the Kobo Vox, a 7-inch Android tablet released in 2011. In 2014, Kobo discontinued the Arc tablets and did not develop another one.[16]

Applications

Kobo offers free reading applications for Windows and MacOS computers and Android and iOS smartphones. In June 2015, Kobo received a Top Developer badge in the Google Play store.[17] In 2017, Kobo acquired Shelfie, an app that organises personal libraries.[18]

Kobo Plus Subscription Service

Kobo Plus is the company's unlimited audiobook and eBook subscription service.[19] It was first released in the Netherlands and Belgium in 2017 and then expanded to Canada in 2020.[20] In 2021, Kobo signed an agreement with LeYa, a Portuguese publishing group, and launched Kobo Plus e_LeYa, which made exclusive content available in Portugal.[19]

As of May 2021, Kobo Plus offered 599,000 eBooks and 94,000 audiobooks.[19] Books are available in many languages.[20] Readers can choose to subscribe to only eBooks or to expand the service with Kobo Plus Listening, which includes audiobooks.[21]

Store and publishing

Kobo's bookstore was opened in 2009.[22] Content sold on the Kobo Bookstore includes eBooks, Audiobooks, newspapers, and magazines. The majority of titles are sold in the open ePub format, albeit with Digital rights management.[23]

Several digital bookstores have closed down and transferred their users to Kobo's bookstore. They include the defunct Borders,[24] as well as the Sony Reader Store.[25] Both have provided tools for users to migrate purchases and information to Kobo's offering.

On 17 July 2012, Kobo launched a self-publishing platform called Kobo Writing Life (KWL).[26] Key features of Kobo Writing Life include "deep analytics", allowing authors to track sales in real-time; a "learning centre" to guide newcomers in digital publishing; and allowing an author to sell books globally.[27]

In 2019, KWL began offering self-publishing opportunities for Audiobooks.[28]

Emerging Writer Prize

The Kobo Emerging Writer Prize awards three first-time Canadian authors with Ca$10,000 each.[29] The awards are given in three categories, Literary Fiction, Nonfiction, and Genre Fiction, with the genre selection changing each year.[30] Traditionally published, and self-published books are eligible, and authors receive marketing and communications support during their winning year.[31]

In 2021, the award's seventh year, the winning authors were: Michelle Good, author of Five Little Indians (Fiction); Eternity Martis, author of They Said This Would Be Fun (Nonfiction); and Emily Hepditch, author of The Woman in the Attic (Mystery).[32]

At the same time as the Libra 2, the Kobo Sage was also introduced as a new top model. It has an 8" E-Ink Carta 1200 display with a resolution of 1440 × 1920 pixels and 32 GB internal memory. A Bluetooth module and a USB-C port have also been installed. In addition, as with the Elipsa, it is possible to capture notes on the device with a stylus.[33]

Venture with Walmart

In 2018, the company and Walmart contracted to allow the latter to sell Kobo audiobooks, eBooks and eReaders in the U.S. This was the first venture into eBooks for the retailer which also began selling the Kobo eReaders.[46] Walmart installed eReader stations in over 1,000 stores. Their eBook Web site was listing over 6 million titles. The retailer also began to offer subscriptions for audiobooks at a monthly fee.[47]

Venture with Bol

In the Netherlands, Bol.com is contracted to sell Kobo audiobooks, eBooks and eReaders.[48]