Sony strikes book deal with Google

The company said that the content will be offered through Sony's eBook Store service and will consist of public domain titles from Google's book archiving efforts. Users can access the collection through their PCs or through Sony's PRS-505 and PRS-700 Reader devices.

The move will see the eBook Store's collection of books rocket to more than 600,000 titles available for download.

"We have focused our efforts on offering an open platform and making it easy to find as much content as possible, from our store or others, whether that content is purchased, borrowed or free,” said Steve Haber, president of Sony's the digital reading business division.

"Working with Google, we can offer book lovers another avenue for free books while still providing a seamless experience from our store."

The move could also help Sony in its competition with the Amazon Kindle 2. The Kindle has garnered widespread attention in recent weeks both to the release of the new Kindle II model and a patent battle with the owners of the Discovery Channel.