From the press release:
New this holiday season Kobo offers the ability to gift an eBook. Customers can browse the Kobo store which offers over 2.2 million eBooks, from the latest new releases, New York Time bestsellers, suspense, romance, thrillers, and much more – then select and purchase an eBook and send it to a friend or family member electronically with a personalized Kobo Holiday email and have it delivered on the date they select . An easy and stress- free way to send a thoughtful gift to keep in touch with loved ones during the holidays.
Kobo is also offering eGift Cards, available to purchase and send electronically in the US and Canada. Customers can define the amount they would like to gift, choose the Kobo holiday themed gift card, and send their gift card electronically.
Gift givers can schedule when they want their gifts to be delivered, so they will be waiting as a surprise gift in their in-box.
I’m amazed that Amazon doesn’t allow me to send an ebook as a gift to another Kindle owner. The only way for me to do this is to send the recipient a gift card for the dollar amount of the book. Lame. Another clever thing about the Kobo scheme is that Kobo’s “standard” form of Adobe DRM should allow you to give a book to someone who doesn’t even use a Kobo reader. More info here.
Congratulations, you’ve invented the gift certificate.
Density, that is true of the eCard thing. But being able to gift someone a specific e-book is an innovation that we haven’t seen yet in any of the major or major-wanna-be e-book stores. I’ve pointed this out before, in fact. In reference to how Valve’s Steam distribution system lets you buy and e-mail specific games to your friends as gifts:
Looks like Kobo, at least, has gotten it right at last.
“I’m amazed that Amazon doesn’t allow me to send an ebook as a gift to another Kindle owner.”
At one time they said this was being worked on, but I haven’t read anything new about it in months. Hopefully it’ll happen soon.