Bookeen

Bookeen SAS is a French company specializing in e-books and consumer electronics, particularly e-readers. Founded in Paris in 2003, the company was established by Michaël Dahan and Laurent Picard, two former engineers from Cytale, the first European company to produce an e-reader. After Cytale's failure, Dahan and Picard acquired the intellectual property for its device, which became the foundation for Bookeen's first product, the Cybook Gen1.

The founders leveraged their experience from Cytale, where they were involved in designing the original Cybook in 1998. Michaël Dahan, a graduate of ESPCI ParisTech with a background in molecular physics research, served as the CEO and drove product development, continuously enhancing features like file format compatibility, screen responsiveness, and battery life. The company pioneered the European e-reader market and evolved into a full-service global supplier.

Bookeen's business model involves both direct-to-consumer sales and providing white-label e-reader solutions for major retailers. The company developed a complete digital reading ecosystem, including hardware, mobile applications, and ebook store management based on open standards. This strategy led to partnerships with retailers like Carrefour, Adlibris, and Thalia, who sold Bookeen's e-readers under their own brands with their catalogues integrated. The company also launched its own digital bookstore, BookeenStore.com, in 2011.

Over the years, Bookeen released numerous e-reader models under the 'Cybook' brand, including the Opus, Orizon, Muse, and Ocean. These devices were known for using E Ink screens, supporting open formats like ePub, and featuring user-centric designs. However, the company faced significant financial difficulties and was placed into administration. In November 2022, Bookeen was acquired by Vivlio, a subsidiary of Cultura, ensuring the continuity of its services for existing users.

Keywords: e-reader, digital reading, Cybook, consumer electronics, ebook ecosystem, e-ink, white-label ereader, ebook store, digital bookstore, ePub format, bookeenstore, Michael Dahan, Laurent Picard, Vivlio, mobile reading, digital books, electronic books, reading technology, page turn, digital library