Google offers 1.5million books to download FREE onto your mobile phone

By Mark Prigg
Last updated at 4:54 PM on 06th February 2009

Enlarge Google books on mobile

Novel: Google is offering free classics to download, such as Oliver Twist

Google today launched a free service allowing people to read books on their mobile phones.

The internet firm is offering 1.5million electronic novels to download, including classics such as Oliver Twist, Emma and The Jungle Book.

It believes the latest generation of phones, which have large colour screens, now make it viable to provide the service.

Google said it hoped it would lead to more people reading regularly.

The move will see the firm taking on Amazon and Sony, which offer dedicated electronic book readers.

Experts said they expected an online battle for the market.

Stuart Miles, of gadget website Pocket-lint, said: 'Google has obviously seen how Amazon dominated the online selling of real books, and wants to stop that happening again.

'By offering free, out-of-copyright books they can instantly offer this huge library.

'Google's approach is also very clever because it is costing them very little, as they don't have to develop their own hardware.'


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Amazon launched its electronic book reader, called the Kindle, in the U.S. last year, although it has not announced when it will go on sale in the UK.

Here, technology correspondent Mark Prigg explains why he gives Google's book reader system three out of five and believes it's a godsend for commuters.

Reading a book on a mobile phone screen does seem, at first, a terrible idea.

Screens are too small, and surely you'll develop a headache after a few minutes of squinting?

However, in reality the latest generation of smart phones really do show that Google might just be onto something here.

We tried the book reader software on an Apple iPhone, and it was a surprisingly good experience.

Choosing books is simple, as they are split by genre, or you can search for a title or author.

Text is clear and easy to read, and rather than turning a page, you simply swipe your finger down to scroll through the book.

Although a dedicated e-reader does have a bigger screen, the advantage of Google's approach is that you always have your phone with you.

For commuters, it could be an absolute godsend.