Ubuntu sponsor Canonical has announced that it has signed a partnership agreement with the Pearson Technology Group and Linux New Media to provide ebooks and magazines to the Ubuntu Software Centre. Canonical says that several ebooks, including "The Official Ubuntu Book" and "Ubuntu Unleashed: 2011 Edition", have already been added to the Software Centre; magazines such as Ubuntu User and Linux Magazine should be available soon from $6.99.

The Software Centre is the Linux distribution's recommended software management system for adding additional applications, tools or components; commercial software was first added to Ubuntu in April 2010 with the 11.04 "Natty Narwhal" release. "Through this innovative partnership we are adding eBooks and magazines to the wide range of applications currently available in the Ubuntu Software Center, creating a fantastic revenue opportunity for Ubuntu developers and content creators", said Canonical VP Business Development Steve George.

Once purchased, users will be able to access their email or magazines as "highly visual PDFs" from any of their devices using the Ubuntu Single Sign On service. Further details about publishing content to the Ubuntu Software Centre can be found on the Ubuntu App Developer web site.

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(crve)