Barnes & Noble and Samsung Electronics have announced a new deal to develop co-branded Galaxy Tab 4 Nook tablets that will come with pre-installed apps from the bookseller and a Nook homescreen. A seven-inch version is scheduled to launch in Barnes & Noble's stores and on its website in August.
The deal, according to Barnes & Noble CEO Michael Huseby, will allow the company to concentrate on what it is good at and not get bogged down trying to be a tablet manufacturer.
"Standing behind these great new devices will be the power of our 40,000 Barnes & Noble booksellers combined with our deep bookselling and retail expertise to provide sales support and personalized in-store customer service for our lineup of new Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Nook products," said Mr. Huseby in a statement. "Partnering with Samsung brings our customers great new products and evidences our commitment to our NOOK customers and growing our digital content business."
David Strasser, an analyst at Janney Montgomery Scott, is bullish on the news. In a note to clients he wrote that the deal would "drive cutting-edge designs as well as dramatically cut losses" for Barnes & Noble.
- Samsung and Barnes & Noble Announce Partnership to Create Co-Branded Tablets - Barnes & Noble, Inc.
- Barnes & Noble to Team With Samsung on Next Nook Tablet - Bloomberg News
- Barnes & Noble to develop new Nook tablet with Samsung - Reuters
- Barnes & Noble enlists Samsung for Nook tablet - The Associated Press/USA Today