Google Inc is making the leap from digital librarian to merchant in a challenge to Amazon.com Inc. and its Kindle electronic reader.

About 4 000 publishers, including CBS Corp's Simon & Schuster Inc, Random House Inc and Pearson PLC's Penguin Group, are also allowing Google to carry many of their recently released books in the new store. http://www.dawn.com/2010/12/07/google-opens-e-book-store-in-challenge-to-amazon.html