eBook social media service Wattpad has become the latest eBook player to announce support for the EPUB format, following Google Books and Sony in adopting the XML-based standard.
The site publishes eBooks written by users which can then be read via Wattpad’s website, mobile site or through applications for mobile phones including BlackBerry and iPhone handsets.
“We are excited about the support of EPUB, which is quickly becoming the de facto standard for ebooks,” said Eva Lau, COO of Wattpad. “It opens the door to a whole host of content from writers and publishers. It also paves the way to seamlessly publish our 100,000+ user generated ebooks to third parties.”
In recent weeks a growing number of firms have announced support for the standard with Sony announcing it would stop selling titles in its own proprietary ebook format and convert eBook store to the format.
“It is essential for everyone in the ebook ecosystem to adopt the same standard,” says Michael Smith, executive director of International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF). “We welcome Wattpad to the growing list of key players who have embraced the EPUB standard.”