Detroit Newspapers Partner with Plastic Logic to Help Transform Daily News Delivery with Innovative New eReader

Plastic Logic announced a strategic partnership agreement with the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News, Michigan’s largest and award-winning metro daily newspapers, to offer an innovative digital content delivery and distribution program with its forthcoming Plastic Logic Reader.

The Plastic Logic Reader, due in the market in early 2010, is a groundbreaking electronic reader that features a large, thin, lightweight and robust form factor that is about the size of an 8.5 x 11 inch pad of paper and weighs less than many print magazines. The eReader is differentiated by its size, unique plastic display that is based on Plastic Logic’s revolutionary plastic electronics technology, and intuitive touch screen interface, among other yet to be announced features.

The partnership announcement was made today by Detroit Media Partnership and Detroit Free Press CEO David Hunke and Plastic Logic CEO Richard Archuleta during a press conference at the prestigious Detroit Economic Club.

Earlier, in a speech before the Club, Hunke outlined a set of sweeping and innovative changes for the Detroit newspapers that emphasizes digital content delivery. As part of the initiative, the Plastic Logic Reader will be offered for purchase or lease to subscribers of the Detroit dailies as an alternative to paper delivery. The Detroit newspapers will also be among the first publications to test the new eReader later this year.

“Our goal is to provide a superior digital reading experience for users while also offering a versatile new delivery platform for the publishing industry,” said Archuleta. “The Detroit Media group is taking a bold approach in defining its next generation newspapers, and Plastic Logic is delighted to be a part of this transformation.”

“The newspaper industry faces historic challenges as it attempts to transform itself in the digital age,” said Hunke. “We look to innovative new digital products like the Plastic Logic Reader to help us usher in a new era in publishing by helping us provide our readers all the benefits of digital content while retaining the familiar easy-to-read, paper-like format many readers continue to value.”

Plastic Logic plans to make its eReader, specifically targeted to mobile business professionals, available in trials and pilots with partners and key customers during the second half of 2009, followed by widespread commercial availability in 2010.