Barnes & Noble has struck a deal to develop its Nook tablets with Samsung Electronics. The companies announced a partnership to develop co-branded Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Nook tablets that feature the Barnes & Noble digital reading software and services. The companies expect to introduce the first tablet in a 7-inch version in the US in early August. The co-branded tablets will be prominently displayed along with Nook eReaders and sold at Barnes & Noble’s nearly 700 bookstores across the US and online at bn.com.
The agreement follows a long search by Barnes & Noble for a strategic partner for the Nook business, which has been suffering from declining sales in the face of tough competition in the tablet market. The company said the Samsung agreement will help reduce its exposure to the substantial cost structure and other financial commitments that accompany ownership of the hardware production aspects of the Nook tablet business. Going forward, the company will be able to focus on its expertise in digital books and content sales.
