VitalSource enters India thanks to partnership

Vital Source Technologies, Ingram Content Group’s e-textbook solution, and B.i. Publications, India's largest distributor of scientific, technical and medical content to the academic and professional communities, have agreed a joint venture to launch Ingram's VitalSource Bookshelf e-textbook platform to institutions in India.   

'India, by far, is the most exciting growth market for English language textbooks in the world today,' said Shashank Bhagat, chairman of the Bi Group. 'The market in India is ripe for media-rich interactive learning experiences.

'With Ingram's VitalSource Bookshelf platform, and the local market reach of the Bi Group, students at India’s top universities, colleges, and corporate training programmes will have access to the newest and most relevant digital content and learning tools that are available today.'

Ingram and the Bi Group have plans to make the VitalSource Bookshelf platform available to institutions throughout India. The new company will provide VitalSource Bookshelf sales, service, and user support for publishers, schools, and channel resellers in India.

The VitalSource Bookshelf platform, designed for education, is the preferred and most used e-textbook delivery platform in higher education today. With longstanding relationships with more than 300 of the best-known publishers, and with over three million registered users on 6,000 campuses worldwide, the platform was designed to support learning and built to scale for dramatic growth.

'Integrating technology into academic curricula is quickly becoming the new standard in education,' said John Ingram, chairman and CEO of Ingram Content Group. 'Ingram-Bi is ready to help educators in India seamlessly incorporate more digital components and learning tools into their programmes of study to enhance learning opportunities for all students.'