Airtel launches e-book app store

India’s Bharti Airtel has expanded its OTT portfolio with the launch of a new app store for e-books.

The Airtel Books app currently offers over 70,000 e-books from Indian and international authors, including some of the latest launch titles.

The app will include a subscription service offering access to a curated selection of the e-books, priced at 129 rupees ($1.87) for six months and 199 for 12 months. Customers can also purchase books on a per-item basis.

Airtel Books will be available to both Airtel and non-Airtel customers via both iOS and Android.

Airtel is offering all users a complimentary 30 day trial and access to free titles from the Readers Club component of the app. Smartphone customers will also be offered five free books from a selection of over 5,000 paid e-books.

The new OTT app adds to Airtel’s existing digital content portfolio, which includes offerings including the Wynk Music subscription service and Airtel TV.

“Airtel Books is another major milestone in our journey towards building a world-class digital content portfolio. E-books is a fast growing segment along with music and video, thanks to large screen smartphones becoming the cornerstone of digital lifestyle,” Airtel CEO for content and apps Sameer Batra said.

“We are delighted to roll out this initiative and take it to the smartphone users across India through our deep distribution reach.”