Borders expands partnership with Sony

ANN ARBOR, Mich. Borders and Sony are expanding their existing partnership for the sale of the Reader Digital Book and are expecting to launch a new, co-branded version of Sony's online store for e-book downloads in October, the companies announced today.

Borders will expand the sale of the Reader to more than 500 stores nationwide beginning October, the companies reported. Currently, the Reader is sold in approximately 270 Borders stores, which began selling the device in 2006 when Borders was the first retailer to make it available outside of Sony itself (through its Sony Style stores and the company's e-commerce site).

Borders will run the co-branded Web site that Sony will support, which will offer digital downloads of more than 20,000 books.