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eBook Technologies Helps The Kansas City Star Deliver More Publications, Reduce Carrier Error
 
Carriers use eBook devices and associated software to improve delivery accuracy and generate delivery revenue

LA JOLLA, CA - January 14, 2008 - eBook Technologies Inc. (ETI), the leading provider of end-to-end electronic book platforms, announced that The Kansas City Star newspaper has adopted ETI’s eBooks and associated software to link the newspaper’s circulation system to deliver daily route lists. The lists are displayed on the eBook devices, enabling newspaper carriers to run delivery routes accurately and efficiently.

ETI’s eBooks enable The Star to deliver more publications, deliver targeted inserts for advertisers and address specific customer delivery requirements. The eBooks help the newspaper reduce expenses by eliminating printing costs and minimizing human error, reducing delivery complaints by more than 40%. Additional cost savings result from improved carrier productivity due to more accurate delivery information.

”As one of the largest newspaper distributors in the country, we deliver multiple publications, and a typical carrier has four to five hundred throws per shift,“ said Joe Coleman, Product Development Director/Circulation at The Kansas City Star. ”Instead of having to do that from memory or by referencing a binder, carriers now have an eBook that is accurate, easy to read, and organizes delivery information in a logical, efficient way. Because they are more efficient, carriers can deliver additional publications—we’ve added the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, USA Today and others to our list of home delivered publications in addition to The Star. The eBook solution is worth more than $1 million per year in additional revenue to our business.“

ETI’s eBook devices are backlit for easy early-morning reading, rugged and easy to use. On the backend of the platform, a server application provides up-to-date information pulled from the circulation system database about customers and deliveries and directs the delivery list to the device. Carriers see the name of the product to be delivered, the address and any customer requirements attributed to that delivery. They can also find the most efficient route information and driving directions. Each device is addressable, so if a carrier calls in sick, the information for his route is delivered in minutes to another carrier’s device over the Internet.

”ETI’s eBooks have enabled The Kansas City Star to expand its distribution capabilities and deliver more publications to customers,“ said Garth Conboy, President of ETI. ”Equally as important, they can now deliver a number of subscription types with different delivery frequencies, while automatically tracking updates and changes. This minimizes human error and improves customer satisfaction with the service. ETI leads the market for electronic book platforms, and we expect to see more delivery services and newspaper carriers taking advantage of our platforms many benefits.“

About The Kansas City Star

The Kansas City Star and its Web site, KansasCity.com, reach more than 1 million readers weekly and together are the preeminent source for local news and advertising in the Kansas City DMA. The Star also owns the Olathe News, Lee's Summit Journal, Belton Star Herald and Cass County Democrat. The company publishes SPACES, an innovative and personal peek into the best of fine living; KC Weddings, Kansas City's premier wedding resource; M, a magazine for Kansas City moms; and Ink, a free weekly lifestyle and entertainment magazine and Web site that is the definitive guide for 21- to 34-year-olds in Kansas City. The Kansas City Star operates under the umbrella of the McClatchy Company, the third largest newspaper publisher in the United States. For more information, visit www.KansasCity.com.

About eBook Technologies. Inc.

ETI is driving the eBook industry forward by designing, developing, and promoting advanced electronic content distribution and reading technology. ETI technology includes reading devices, content creation tools, content distribution and management technology, electronic bookstore and eCommerce implementations. Our technology effectively provides the means for creating, distributing and controlling content for use on portable reading devices whose functionality enhances the reading experience. Our customers and partners are some of the world’s largest organizations that experience faster publication and distribution and eliminate associated printing costs. Garth Conboy, president and founder of eBook Technologies, serves on the IDPF Board of Directors.

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