WHSmith.co.uk targets digital downloads

NEWS WHSmith is set to expand its e-tail site to make non-physical goods such as audio books, music and video available for download. E-books have been available from WHSmith.co.uk since last summer following a deal the retailer signed with Microsoft in March 2001, but the company has been focusing on selling physical goods online. But today's announcement sees the e-tailer build on that offering. It wants the upgraded site to be a "one-stop shop" for downloadable products. WHSmith.co.uk, which currently has 2.1 million products for sale online, will rollout the new digital inventory in phases. The company plans to make audio books available by early June 2002, followed by music, video, games and software. WHSmith expects to have the online digital media store fully operable by mid-October to take advantage of the Christmas season. The site will be based on the technology of digital media specialist OverDrive, and will use Microsoft's Windows Media audio, video and digital rights management (DRM) technology.