BOL Japan Inc., a Web-based retailing unit of international media giant Bertelsmann AG, announced Tuesday in Tokyo that it will open its first Japanese-language Web shopping site today.
The Web site, which will handle about 500,000 book titles, will begin selling compact discs in the fall. The firm may eventually handle DVD software as well as a music downloading service, company officials said.
Customers in Japan will receive books via direct home delivery service and settle payments either by credit card or at local convenience stores or post offices, according to the firm.
BOL Japan President Isao Tanaka said the company is now negotiating with convenience store chains and railway companies so that customers can pick up goods at their shops or stations.
BOL Japan Inc. is a subsidiary of bol.com AG, a subsidiary of Bertelsmann AG.
The international system of bol.com handles over 5 million book titles and about 500,000 music titles in 14 countries.