One of Microsoft"s attempts at providing electronic entertainment is being ended. The Microsoft Reader web site has announced that the eReader software will no longer be available to download after August 30, 2012. In addition, the software"s ebook store will shut down after November 8, 2011. People who have already downloaded Microsoft Reader and purchased eBooks via the software will still be able to use the app even after August 30, 2012. Microsoft offered no concrete reason for the shut down of Microsoft Reader.
Microsoft first released Microsoft Reader in 2000 and allowed people to download, purchase and eBooks in the .lit format via Windows-based PCs and mobile devices. While the app was released well before the publishing industry embraced the eBook business, the software never caught on with Windows users. Indeed this might be the case of Microsoft being ahead of its time. Microsoft Reader was released long before Amazon changed the book industry forever with its Kindle eReader device and its related software app that is available for the PC, Android and iOS products .
News.com reports that Microsoft hasn"t bothered to update the software for desktops since 2007. Its last mobile update for mobile devices a bit more recent; its last version was released in 2009. Microsoft doesn"t plan to release a new eReader app. If you happen to delete your Microsoft Reader copy after the shut down date, you may be out of luck. Microsoft doesn"t plan to help any of the software"s users to transfer its eBook purchases to another third party app.